# NTSB DEN80FQA15: Cessna 172N, N8281E, Tucumcari, NM, April 2, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 2, 1980
- Place: Tucumcari, NM · TUCUMCARI, NM
- Location: 35.1709° N, 103.7053° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tucumcari, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1709&lon=-103.7053&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 16, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131518
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FQA15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FQA15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1277   80/4/2  NR.TUCUMCARI,NM       CESSNA 172N         CR-  0  1  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0300                    N8281E              PX-  0  0  1  TRAINING                  AGE 22, 487 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            78 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              CLOVIS,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      RAIN, SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       33
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8281E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8281E), registered now, S/N 17272168, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A2F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a2f) (registry code 42264, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800402007759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800402007759A), Apr 2, 1980: Cessna 172N, Tucumcari, NM, Substantial damage. Entered clouds in area of icing snow & low ceiling on night VFR flight. Hit ground in a shallow descent.

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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