# NTSB DEN04TA088: Cessna C172P, N9474L, Las Cruces, NM, June 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: June 9, 2004, 21:10 local (Jun 10, 2004, 03:10 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM - Coordinates: 32.29, -106.921669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2900&lon=-106.9217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59424 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04TA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59424/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=59424 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04TA088 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain and the improper go-around procedure. Contributing factors include the pilot's diverted attention, improper in-flight planning and decision making, pilot fatigue, the night conditions and the mesquite bushes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - communications - inaccurate, pilot in command - electrical system,voltmeter - low level - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue(flight schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Nose over, go-around (vfr) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the low voltage light illuminated and the pilot elected to return to land. The pilot transmitted on the Unicom frequency that he was "turning base to final for runway 26" when in fact he was turning base to final for runway 22. The pilot of another airplane heard this report and elected to take off on runway 22. The pilot of the accident airplane sighted the other aircraft on the runway and elected to make a 360-degree turn for spacing purposes. During the turn, the airplane struck large mesquite bushes and was destroyed when it collided with terrain. Prior to the flight, the pilot performed three takeoffs and landings to a full stop to renew his night flight currency for the carriage of passengers. His last night flight was on September 1, 2003. According to the pilot, he had flown 6.9 hours on the day of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2004, at approximately 2110 mountain daylight time, a Cessna C172P, N9474L, operated by the New Mexico Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), was destroyed when the pilot attempted to make a go around at Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. The private pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico, was originating at the time of the accident. According to the accident report submitted by the CAP, the airplane had just departed LRU when the low voltage light illuminated and the pilot returned to LRU. The pilot transmitted on the Unicom frequency that he was "turning base to final for runway 26" but was actually turning base to final for runway 22. The pilot of another CAP airplane heard this report and elected to take off on runway 22. The pilot of N9474L sighted the other aircraft on the runway and made a 360-degree turn for spacing purposes. During the turn, the airplane struck large mesquite bushes and collided with terrain. The nose wheel was severed, and the airplane nosed over and slid into a fence. The engine mounts were broken, the wing struts were bent and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The pilot sustained broken bones. Prior to the flight, the accident pilot had performed three take-off, landing and taxi back procedures to renew his night flight currency for carriage of passengers. (49 CFR Part 61.56) His last night flight was on September 1, 2003. According to the report, the pilot had flown for 6.9 hours on the day of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9474L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9474L-2006-03-07), registration cancelled 2006-03-07, S/N 17276560, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna C172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276560 - Airframe hours: 2758.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 23, 2004 - Departed: LRU, Las Cruces, NM - Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Airport: LRU, Las Cruces International, runway 22, 7,499 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 4, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 850 total, 416 in this make and model, 623 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: LRU, 2 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 20040609010269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040609010269A), Jun 9, 2004: Cessna 172P, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 9, 2004, at 2208 MDT, a Cessna 172, N9474L, registered to civil air patrol, operating as a public use aircraft, collided with terrain while… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=59424. 434 KB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40215360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Email from Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455663&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40215364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.