# NTSB DEN81FTE17: Cessna 120, N77320, Erie, CO, January 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 21, 1981
- Place: Erie, CO · ERIE, CO
- Location: 40.0403° N, 105.0383° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Erie, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0403&lon=-105.0383&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0120  81/1/21    ERIE,CO             CESSNA 120          CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1630                    N77320              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 27, 2470 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            51 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRI-COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ERIE,CO                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           DUAL STUDENT - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILURE TO RELINQUISH CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLIES
        REMARKS- L TAILWHEEL/RUDDER SPRING DETACHED AT TAILWHEEL END,R SPRING DETACHED AT RUDDER END.NEW BRAKES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77320](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77320-2018-10-17), registration cancelled 2018-10-17, S/N 11762, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Tri-County

## 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 19810121000939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810121000939A), Jan 21, 1981: Cessna 120, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. Tail wheel spring came loose on landing. Student pilot over controlled rudder and brakes. Airplane nosed over.

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.