# NTSB DEN04LA017: Cessna 172R, N9864F, Cloudcroft, NM, November 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 1, 2003, 11:57 local (18:57 UTC) - Place: Cloudcroft, NM - Coordinates: 32.976112, -105.738609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9761&lon=-105.7386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58280/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA017 ## Probable cause the dual student's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Low altitude flight and rising terrain are contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - altitude/clearance - not maintained, dual student (cause) - low altitude flight/maneuver (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - climb - not attained, dual student - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The airplane was flying through a valley when the pilot unexpectedly encountered rapidly rising terrain. The valley that the accident airplane went through, gains approximately 3,000 feet over 5 statute miles. The pilot was forced to turn sharp to the right and could not maintain altitude. The airplane impacted into a heavily forested area, destroying the airplane and causing serious injury to the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor on board. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 2003, at approximately 1157 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172R, N9864F, operated by Hesston College, was destroyed following impact with terrain during climb near Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The commercial certificated flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were seriously injured, and a private pilot passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The mountain flying training flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Las Cruces, New Mexico, at approximately 1100 and was en route to Roswell, New Mexico. The airplane was one of three airplanes participating in a mountain flying training program. According to the accident report submitted by the college, the flight was proceeding through a valley, en route to Roswell. The terrain "rose up unexpectedly." The valley that the accident airplane was in, rises approximately 3,000 feet in 5 statute miles. According to the college, the airplane was unable to climb fast enough to clear the rising terrain. The airplane turned sharp to the right but was unable to maintain terrain separation. The airplane made a forced landing in a heavily forested area in Lincoln National Forest. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted several trees, separating both wings and the left horizontal stabilizer. The airplane came to rest inverted. The calculated density altitude at the accident site was approximately 10,380 feet. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the service ceiling of the C172R is 13,500. The maximum gross weight is 2,450 pounds and the actual weight of the accident airplane was calculated to be 2,424 pounds. Based on these conditions, the maximum rate of climb was 200 feet per minute. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9864F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9864F-2004-12-06), registration cancelled 2004-12-06, S/N 17280091 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172R - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280091 - Airframe hours: 3324 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hesston College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 21, 2003, 42 hours before - Departed: LRU, Las Cruces, NM - Destination: ROW, Roswell, NM - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 5, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 932 total, 385 in this make and model, 853 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 26, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 74 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: ALM, 15 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 20031101035499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031101035499A), Nov 1, 2003: Cessna 172R, Cloudcroft, NM, Destroyed. (-23) On November 1, 2003 at 1155 mountain standard time, a Cessna model 172R, (9864F), registered to, and operated by, hesston college, 301 south main street,… 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.