# Accident 20111220030039A: Cessna 172R, Denton, TX, December 20, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 20, 2011, 01:00 local time
- Place: Denton, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2150° N, 97.2036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2150&lon=-97.2036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N987BT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N987BT-2012-02-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 808 total, 299 in this make and model, 326 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111220030039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 12/20/2011 AT 0130 CDT, A CESSNA 172R, N987BT, REGISTERED TO US AVIATION GROUP LLC, DENTON, TEXAS, IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM AN ILS APPROACH PROCEDURE TO RUNWAY 18 AT DENTON REGIONAL AIRPORT DURING A TIME-BUILDING TRAINING FLIGHT. ONBOARD WAS AN INSTRUCTOR, (PIC), A STUDENT (CO-PILOT) WHO WAS ALSO AN INSTRUMENT AND COMMERCIAL PILOT, AND SEATED IN BACK WAS A STUDENT PILOT AS AN OBSERVER. LOW IFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED (FOG), AND IFR CLEARANCE WAS ISSUED BY ATC FOR ILS APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 18. THE RADAR TRACK INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE APPROACH WITH A COURSE DEVIATION THAT DID NOT DECREASE WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE APPROACH. THE PILOTS DESCENDED INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHILE ON THE APPROACH. UPON REACHING DECISION ALTITUDE BUT NOT HAVING THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT IN SIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO, "DESCEND A LITTLE MORE". THE PILOTS DESCENDED BEYOND THE DECISION ALTITUDE AND EVENTUALLY SAW THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT TO THEIR LEFT.  SEEING THAT THEY WERE NOT ALIGNED WITH RUNWAY 18, THE PILOTS ELECTED TO CIRCLE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 36. (NOTE: CIRCLING MINIMUMS ARE 500 FT. AGL. ILS MINIMUMS ARE 200 FT. AGL.) ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER STATEMENT, THE PILOT CLIMBED SLIGHTLY DURING THE TURN TO 36. ATC RECEIVED A SINGLE RADAR RETURN WITH AN ALTITUDE VALUE OF 800 FT. DURING THE TURN THE PILOTS OVERSHOT RUNWAY 36.  THEY THEN DETERMINED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING ON RUNWAY 36 FOR LANDING AND INITIATED A MISSED APPROACH.  THE PILOTS CONTINUED NORTHWEST BUT FAILED TO CLIMB SUFFICIENTLY.  ATC RECEIVED FOUR RADAR RETURNS WITH ALTITUDE VALUES OF 700 FT.  IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE INITIATION OF A LEFT TURN FOR MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURES, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREES. THE RADAR TRACK WAS LOST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT AND CAME TO REST .42 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE END OF RUNWAY 18.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND (INSTRUCTOR) SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES, CO-PILOT (STUDENT) RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PIC HELD A COMMERCIAL PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM DENTON, TEXAS (KDTO) ON 12/19/2011, AT 20:00 CST.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN12LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA109), Dec 20, 2011: Cessna 172R (N987BT), Denton, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's controlled flight into terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform a circling…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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