# NTSB MIA80FLD39: Cessna 180E, N8681X, Zephyrhills, FL, February 16, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 16, 1980
- Place: Zephyrhills, FL · ZEPHYRHILLS, FL
- Location: 28.2407° N, 82.1790° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Zephyrhills, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2407&lon=-82.1790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA80FLD39
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FLD39

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2432  80/2/16  NR.ZEPHYRHILLS,FL     CESSNA 180E         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 1177
        TIME - 0400                    N8681X              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 65 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DELAND,FL                  ZEPHYRHILLS,FL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          190                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8681X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8681X-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 18051081, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180E
- Registry model: [Cessna 180E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180e) (registry code 2072612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Zephyrhills Muni

## 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 19800216002819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800216002819A), Feb 16, 1980: Cessna 180E, Zephyrhills, FL, Destroyed. Descended into fog. Tried to fly back to vrf, hit trees. Recovered, then hit more trees and crashed.

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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