# NTSB DEN81FTC05: Cessna 172, N51873, Rock Springs, WY, November 22, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 22, 1980
- Place: Rock Springs, WY · ROCK SPRINGS, WY
- Location: 41.5947° N, 109.2209° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rock Springs, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5947&lon=-109.2209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128055
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTC05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTC05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3565  80/11/22 NR.ROCK SPRINGS,WY    CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1015                    N51873              PX-  0  0  0  AIR SHOW/RACING           AGE 30, 1555 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            210 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHEYENNE,WY                 ROCKSPRINGS,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      31
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       11
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- WND GUSTING TO 16KTS. PILOT REPORTED SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS IN AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51873](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51873-1989-06-01), registration cancelled 1989-06-01, S/N 17274368 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (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 19801122076369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801122076369A), Nov 22, 1980: Cessna 172P, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. Descended below mda on LOC DME approach. Hit downdraft, struck ground. DME was inoperative.

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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