# NTSB CEN15LA122: Cessna 172F, N8368U, Routt County, CO, January 25, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 2015, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Routt County, CO - Coordinates: 40.299167, -106.671386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2992&lon=-106.6714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90651/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90651 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Intentional act: suicide](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015/cases.md) - [Mental/emotional state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while en route to his destination airport, he became emotional and decided to intentionally fly his airplane into the side of a mountain in an attempt to commit suicide. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 2015, about 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172F airplane, N8368U, impacted terrain in the Routt National Forest, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross country flight. The airplane impacted sparely wooded, mountainous terrain at an approximate elevation of 10,000 feet. Both wings were crushed and impact damaged. The fuselage was crushed and distorted. The empennage separated from the aft cabin but remain attached to the airplane via control cables. The right elevator was crushed. A review of Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the pilot's private pilot certificate had been revoked several years earlier. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that he became emotional over previous life events. The pilot then decided to attempt suicide by flying the airplane into the side of a mountain. He reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8368U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8368U-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 17252268, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252268 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 2681.5 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darling, Mark R - Registered owner: Darling, Mark R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 2014 - Departed: Baggs, WY - Destination: GXY, Greeley, CO - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,000 total, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KSBS, 16 nm away ## 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 20150125000839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150125000839A), Jan 25, 2015: Cessna 172F, Routt County, CO, Destroyed. On 1/25/2015 at approximately 1120 hrs. MST, N8368U, a Cessna model 172F aircraft was destroyed after impacting terrain near rabbit ears pass, Routt County,… ## Other investigations on N8368U (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 FTW67F0110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67F0110), Jul 24, 1966: Cessna 172 (N8368U), Amarillo, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90651. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Darling (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425696&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Darling-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of USFS) (item 3, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20USFS)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of USFS) (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20USFS)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.