# NTSB DEN80FTE14: Cessna R172K, N736LR, Montrose, CO, December 14, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: December 14, 1979
- Place: Montrose, CO · MONTROSE, CO
- Location: 38.4688° N, 107.8590° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montrose, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4688&lon=-107.8590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132071
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FTE14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTE14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3286  79/12/14 NR.MONTROSE,CO        CESSNA R172K        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 1150
        TIME - 1645                    N736LR              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 4 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MONTROSE,CO                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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 VELOCITY-KNOTS
          NONE                                                     CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- CROSSING RIDGES AFTER SURVEYING PROPERTY,HIT TREES 10500MSL.AIM COVERS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N736LR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N736LR-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N R1722616, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R172K
- Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, 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 19791214035509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791214035509A), Dec 14, 1979: Cessna R172K, Montrose, CO, Substantial damage. Unable to outclimb rising terrain in canyon. Hit trees. Pilot reported downdraft. No wind.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.