# NTSB SEA80FA026: Cessna 172M, N61952, So.Lake Tahoe, CA, April 22, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 22, 1980
- Place: So.Lake Tahoe, CA · SO.LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Location: 38.9282° N, 119.9810° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Lake Tahoe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9282&lon=-119.9810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131022
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1572  80/4/22    SO.LAKE TAHOE,CA    CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1130                    N61952              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      AGE 50, 3500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SO.LAKE TAHOE,CA           UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              32
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RCVRY DATE 4/27/80.ALCOHOL LVL-LIVER.64%,KIDNEY.31%,PUTREFACTION EFCT UNKN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61952](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61952-1982-01-04), registration cancelled 1982-01-04, S/N 17264909, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (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: Destroyed
- Airport: South Lake Tahoe

## 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 19800422010769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800422010769A), Apr 22, 1980: Cessna 172M, Lake Tahoeds, CA, Destroyed. Departed VFR into low clouds, snowshowers. Found aircraft 2 miles from airport. Vertical impact. Pilot depressed.

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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