# NTSB DEN81FTE38: Cessna 172N, N734NN, Frisco, CO, May 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 22, 1981
- Place: Frisco, CO · FRISCO, CO
- Location: 39.5785° N, 106.0910° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Frisco, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5785&lon=-106.0910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1037  81/5/22    FRISCO,CO           CESSNA 172N         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0915                    N734NN              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 21, 325 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            126 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ASPEN,CO                    DENVER,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        REMARKS- UN OUTCLIMB RISING TERRAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N734NN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734NN-2012-10-16), registration cancelled 2012-10-16, S/N 17268985, built 1977 (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 19810522027869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810522027869A), May 22, 1981: Cessna 172N, Frisco, CO, Substantial damage. Unable to outclimb rising mountain terrain while following highway. Crashed near highway tunnel.

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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