# NTSB DEN80FQA12: Cessna 177B, N16239, Vaughn, NM, December 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1979
- Place: Vaughn, NM · VAUGHN, NM
- Location: 34.6072° N, 105.2126° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vaughn, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6072&lon=-105.2126&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132193
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FQA12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FQA12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3859  79/12/21 NR.VAUGHN,NM          CESSNA 177B         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 3046
        TIME - 1804                    N16239              PX-  0  1  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 101 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RATON,NM                    ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      90
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- COLLIDED W TREE DRG TURN,WHILE FLWG ROAD UNDER OVC AT NGT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16239](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16239-1980-02-13), registration cancelled 1980-02-13, S/N 17702495, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19791221039999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791221039999A), Dec 21, 1979: Cessna 177B, Vaughn, NM, Destroyed. Night flight in area of deteriorating weather. Tried to follow highway at low altitude. Hit trees.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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