# NTSB LAX81FUJ60: Cessna T207A, N73363, Chinle, AZ, May 6, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1981
- Place: Chinle, AZ · CHINLE, AZ
- Location: 36.1522° N, 109.5798° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chinle, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1522&lon=-109.5798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FUJ60
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUJ60

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1176   81/5/6    CHINLE,AZ           CESSNA T207A        CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0055                    N73363              PX-  0  2  4  BUSINESS                  AGE 20, 764 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            8 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHINLE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHINLE,AZ                   SCOTTSDALE,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- STRUCK RISING TRRN DRG TURN AFTER PICKING UP MIKE & ANSWERING RDO CALL.DARK NGT.D/A APRX 6200FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73363](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73363-1990-05-07), registration cancelled 1990-05-07, S/N 20700581, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T207A
- Registry model: [Cessna T207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t207a) (registry code 2073615) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-m) (registry code 17266, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Chinle

## 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 19810506022999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810506022999A), May 6, 1981: Cessna T207, Chinle, AZ, Substantial damage. Made early climbing turn on night takeoff from unlighted runway. Struck rising terrain off side of runway.

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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