20130303002989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172M · Saratoga, WY · March 3, 2013

Date: March 3, 2013 · 16:00 local
Place: Saratoga, WY
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5129R
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR13FA138
Reported as: Cessna 172M
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,325 total

N5129RRegistration cancelled Sep 18, 2017 · Cessna 172MS/N 17263346 · Built 1974 Airframe modelCessna 172M Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On March 3, 2013 at approx 1600 mountain standard time N5129R, a Cessna 172, impacted trees and snow covered mountainous terrain 11 miles east northeast of Saratoga, WY. The sole occupant was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

ON MARCH 3, 2013 AT APPROX 1600 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME N5129R, A CESSNA 172, IMPACTED TREES AND SNOW COVERED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN 11 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF SARATOGA, WY. THE SOLE OCCUPANT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR13FA138Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSaratoga, WYThe pilot’s decision to attempt flight into approaching adverse weather, which led to his low-level flight, encounter with mountain obscuration and moderate turbulence, and his subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the severity of the pilot’s…Mar 3, 2013 · Substantial damage