# NTSB LAX80FA034: Cessna T207A, N73173, Santa Barbara, CA, January 13, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 13, 1980
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA · SANTA BARBARA, CA
- Location: 34.4036° N, 119.7137° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Barbara, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4036&lon=-119.7137&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134912
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2830  80/1/13  NR.SANTA BARBARA,CA   CESSNA T207A        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1305                    N73173              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  56, 7600 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VISALIA,CA                 SANTA BARBARA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: HOLDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE OR DELAY IN INITIATING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       61
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ARTIFICIAL HORIZON MALF PRIOR TO DEP.SPRAYED WITH WD-40.ADZD ATC ENROUTE NO GYRO.ACFT NOT RCVRD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73173](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73173-1980-02-29), registration cancelled 1980-02-29, S/N 20700566 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T207A
- Registry model: [Cessna T207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t207a) (registry code 2073614) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Santa Barbara

## 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 19800113000039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800113000039A), Jan 13, 1980: Cessna 207, Santa Barbara, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Departed IFR with known defective gyro horizon. Lost control of airplane descending IFR in holding pattern.

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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