# NTSB LAX81FA025: Cessna 172M, N1330U, Sierraville, CA, December 21, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 21, 1980
- Place: Sierraville, CA · SIERRAVILLE, CA
- Location: 39.5822° N, 120.3621° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sierraville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5822&lon=-120.3621&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3288  80/12/21 NR.SIERRAVILLE,CA     CESSNA 172M         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 905
        TIME - 1213                    N1330U              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 365 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SACRAMENTO,CA               ELKO,NV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                          SLEET, FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      36
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       30
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1330U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1330U-1983-06-25), registration cancelled 1983-06-25, S/N 17267018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19801221089929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801221089929A), Dec 21, 1980: Cessna 172M, Sierraville, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. IFR climb to cruise, encountered icing, severe downdrafts. Lost altitude, hit tree on mountainside.

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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