# NTSB DEN81FTE26: Cessna 172N, N6449J, Prospect Vly, CO, March 24, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 24, 1981
- Place: Prospect Vly, CO · PROSPECT VLY, CO
- Location: 40.0736° N, 104.4150° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Prospect Valley, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0736&lon=-104.4150&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0789  81/3/24  NR.PROSPECT VLY,CO    CESSNA 172N         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 236
        TIME - 1600                    N6449J              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 70 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COLORADO SPRINGS,CO         FT COLLINS,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: ROLL
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      SNOW SHOWERS, RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- L MAIN WHL HIT HOLE DRG LNDG ON A ROAD,TURNED LEFT INTO PLOWED FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6449J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6449J), registered now, S/N 17273874, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (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 19810324012109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810324012109A), Mar 24, 1981: Cessna 172N, Prospect Valley, CO, Substantial damage. Elected to land on a snow-covered road due to worsening weather. Veered off road. 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.

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