# NTSB DEN03LA039: Cessna 172M, N64312, Logan, NM, January 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2003, 18:00 local (Jan 29, 2003, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Logan, NM - Coordinates: 35.356388, -103.4375 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3564&lon=-103.4375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56416/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56416 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA039 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, his failure to accomplish appropriate checklist items during the go-around, and his failure to maintain clearance from the trees and the lamp post. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, low airspeed, the trees, and the lamp pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - low (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - utility pole (contributing factor) - flight control,flap - extended - carburetor heat control - open - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis The pilot said that he flew low level over Ute Lake from the west and then turned left to line up on the field. The pilot said at the last minute he realized he was lined up on a dirt road. He applied full power. The pilot said he was "too low and too slow, and [the] terrain was rising." He said he was also coming up on stall speed. The pilot said he flew under a first set of power lines and banked left to avoid a second set of power lines. The airplane struck several trees and a light pole crushing both wings rearward and crushing the cowling, firewall, and forward fuselage aft. The pilot said that when he initiated his go-around, he neglected to push in the carburetor heat or retract the flaps. An examination of the airplane at the scene confirmed this. No other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2003, at approximately 1800 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N64312, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and a light pole during a go around from a visual approach to the Ute Dam Airport (E97), Logan, New Mexico. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a visual flight rules flight plan from Clovis, New Mexico, to Logan, New Mexico, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and 3 passengers on board sustained minor injuries. The cross-country flight originated at 1740. In his written statement, the pilot said that he flew low level over Ute Lake from the west and then turned left to line up on the field. The pilot said at the last minute he realized he was lined up on a dirt road. He applied full power. The pilot said he was "too low and too slow, and [the] terrain was rising." He said he was also coming up on stall speed. The pilot said he flew under a first set of power lines, banked left to avoid a second set of power lines, and then struck a tree. In his statement to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot said that when he initiated his go-around, he neglected to push in the carburetor heat or retract the flaps. The airplane was found resting upright on top of a downed cottonwood tree near a camping area. Several trees and a light pole preceding the accident site showed damage. An examination of the airplane showed the left and right wings crushed aft. The left wing tip was bent upward. The right wing tip was broken aft longitudinally and bent downward. The airplane's flaps were fully extended. The windscreen was broken out. Tree branches were embedded in the cabin interior ceiling. The right side of the forward fuselage, cowling, and firewall were crushed inward. The engine was bent downward and left. The nose gear was bent to the right. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the cockpit showed the carburetor heat knob pulled on. No other anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64312](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64312-2003-05-16), registration cancelled 2003-05-16, S/N 17265162, 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 - Serial number: 17265162 - Airframe hours: 4273.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: United Aero, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 25, 2002, 83.5 hours before - Departed: CVS, Clovis, NM - Destination: E97, Logan, NM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: E97, Ute Dam Airport, runway 21, 3,640 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 28, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 133 total, 50 in this make and model, 46 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 50° at 17 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: TCC, 13 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 20030128001809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030128001809A), Jan 28, 2003: Cessna 172M, Logan, NM, Substantial damage. (.4) On January 28, 2003, at approximately 1800 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N64312, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56416. 535 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40177832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40177834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous - Flight Plan (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40177835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Flight%20Plan-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.