# NTSB DEN80FQA16: Cessna C172, N9878V, Ocate, NM, January 24, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: January 24, 1980
- Place: Ocate, NM · OCATE, NM
- Location: 36.1756° N, 105.0481° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ocate, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1756&lon=-105.0481&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FQA16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FQA16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1278  80/1/24  NR.OCATE,NM           CESSNA C172         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 199
        TIME - 1500                    N9878V              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 70 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DALHART,TX                  ANGEL FIRE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     330
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           25                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9878V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9878V-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 17264542, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, 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 19800124001339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800124001339A), Jan 24, 1980: Cessna 172M, Ocate, NM, Substantial damage. Tried to make turn-around in blind canyon. Hit downdraft. Airplane 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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