# NTSB SEA80FA046: Cessna 172N, N3444E, Pendleton, OR, September 7, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 7, 1980
- Place: Pendleton, OR · PENDLETON, OR
- Location: 45.6756° N, 118.8195° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pendleton, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6756&lon=-118.8195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FA046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2651   80/9/7    PENDLETON,OR        CESSNA 172N         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 17000
        TIME - 1254                    N3444E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PENDLETON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PENDLETON,OR                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        REMARKS- HIT HILLSIDE DURING PULL UP FROM LOW ALT LOOP. BLOOD ALCOHOL LVL 0.124 PERCENT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3444E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3444E-1982-07-23), registration cancelled 1982-07-23, S/N 17271550, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pendleton

## 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 19800907071899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800907071899A), Sep 7, 1980: Cessna 172N, Pendleton, OR, Destroyed. Buzzed area. Looped at tree top level. Struck hillside in shallow descent after loop. Had been warned by ATC.

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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