DEN05FA044

The airplane took off on a local IFR flight plan so the pilot could do instrument approaches in preparation for his commercial pilot flight check. The pilot was given radar vectors and accomplished two ILS approaches to the southwest runway. On climb out, the pilot was cleared direct to the CHISUM VOR, and was cleared to fly the procedure turn for the VOR BRAVO approach. While on the procedure turn and on a northerly heading, the airplane disappeared from radar. The local controller attempted to re-establish radio communications with the airplane, but was unable. Several witnesses in vehicles driving westbound on a highway stated they saw the airplane in the air traveling northwest at approximately 2,500 feet above the ground. One witness stated the airplane "suddenly started downward at a steep angle and crashed." Another witness said it took only a few seconds from the time the airplane started downward until it impacted on the highway. A third witness said he saw "a green and red light coming down at a high angle and very fast," and he "heard [a] loud noise, not [an] explosion." The witness said he then went through the debris across the highway and smelled fuel. The weather conditions at the airport, 281 degrees at 12.6 nautical miles from the accident site were clear skies, calm winds, 10 miles visibility, temperature 39 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 31 degrees F, and altimeter 30.19 inches. At the time of the accident it was night. The light conditions were dark. The airplane was destroyed on impact. An examination of the airplane showed no anomalies.

History of flight

On December 27, 2004, at 1821 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N849SP, departed controlled flight and impacted on a highway, 12 miles west of Roswell, New Mexico. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a local instrument flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board the airplane was fatally injured. The flight originated at the Roswell Industrial Air Center (ROW) at 1736.

Several witnesses in vehicles driving westbound on the highway stated they saw the airplane in the air traveling northwest at approximately 2,500 feet above the ground. One witness stated the airplane "suddenly started downward at a steep angle and crashed." Another witness said it took only a few seconds from the time the airplane started downward until it impacted on the highway. A third witness said he saw "a green and red light coming down at a high angle and very fast," and he "heard [a] loud noise, not [an] explosion." The witness said he then went through the debris across the highway and smelled fuel.

At 1735:04, the pilot received an instrument clearance from the Roswell Air Traffic Control Tower. The pilot took off on runway 17 at ROW at 1736:36.

Radar and communication information confirmed the airplane climbed to approximately 6,500 feet and received radar vectors that took the airplane northeast of ROW and then inbound for an ILS approach to runway 21. At 1745:49, the pilot was cleared for the ILS approach. At 1755:37, the pilot reported he was on climb out from the approach. Roswell Approach Control inquired of the pilot what he wanted to do. The pilot told the controller he wanted to do another ILS approach and then do the "full procedure turn, VOR Bravo [to a] full stop [landing] ..." The pilot received radar vectors that took him northeast of the airport and then inbound on an intercept heading for the ILS approach. At 1803:20 the pilot was cleared for the second ILS approach to runway 21. At 1813:40, the pilot reported he was on climb out from the second ILS approach. Roswell approach control cleared the pilot direct to the CHISUM VOR (CME). Radar confirmed the pilot climbing to approximately 5,900 feet and making a right turn to direct to the CME. At 1813:55, the controller told the pilot, "... reaching CHISUM, you're cleared for the approach, when able, say next request." The pilot responded, "Roger, this'll be a full stop ..." The controller replied, "Roger that." This was the last radio transmission exchange made by the pilot.

At 1821:06, radar contact with the airplane was lost. At the time contact was lost, the airplane was approximately 12 nautical miles west-northwest of CME at 5,800 feet on a northerly heading and airspeed of 132 knots.

At 1822:01, Roswell Approach Control attempted to contact the airplane. There was no reply. The controller made 2 additional attempts to contact the airplane with no response, and then contacted the tower and informed them. The tower controller responded, "... I don't see any lights out there but I'll watch for him."

Personnel information

The pilot, age 21, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. According to his father, the pilot was working on a commercial pilot certificate. The pilot was approximately 3 hours short of having the flying time for the certificate. The pilot's personal logbook showed an endorsement for the commercial pilot check flight, dated December 22, 2004.

The pilot held a first class medical, dated February 25, 2002. The medical certificate cited no limitations.

According to his personal logbook, as of the last entry dated December 26, 2004, the pilot had 239.2 total flying hours. All of this time was in single-engine airplanes. Of that time, 91.9 hours was in the make and model of the accident airplane. Approximately 48.8 hours were flown in the 90 days preceding the accident. Of that time, 27.0 hours was in the make and model of the accident airplane.

The logbook showed the pilot completed his instrument rating on October 19, 2004. The pilot had 79.1 hours of simulated instrument time, 2.8 hours of actual instrument time, and 6.9 hours of night time.

The logbook showed the pilot had completed a flight review on May 24, 2004.

Aircraft information

The airplane, serial number 172S-8757, was owned and operated by Great Southwest Aviation, Incorporated, and was based at ROW. The airplane was used as a rental aircraft and for pilot training.

According to the airframe logbook, the airplane underwent an annual inspection on April 3, 2004. The airplane underwent repairs at Greeley, Colorado, in December 2004. An entry, dated December 6, 2004, showed the engine was re-installed and checked. The airframe time logged was 1,644.9 hours. The tachometer time logged was 1,327.3 hours. The airplane underwent a 100-hour inspection on December 21, 2004. At the 100-hour inspection, the tachometer time recorder was 1,350.6 hours.

The airplane's tachometer and the hour meter were destroyed at the accident.

Meteorological information

At 1753, the routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Roswell Industrial Air Center (ROW), Roswell, New Mexico, 281 degrees at 12.6 nautical miles from the accident site was clear skies, 10 miles visibility, calm winds, temperature 39 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 31 degrees F, and altimeter 30.19 inches.

At the time of the accident it was night. The light conditions were dark.

Wreckage and impact information

The National Transportation Safety Board's on-scene investigation began on December 28, 2004, at 1300.

The accident scene was located on the westbound lanes of U. S. Highway 70, 1/4 mile east of mile marker 318. The first point of impact was at 33 degrees, 22.779 minutes north latitude, and 104 degrees, 45.465 minutes west longitude.

The accident site began with a 4 foot, 7 inch wide, by 4 foot 2 inch long crater located at the south shoulder of the westbound lanes of the road. The crater was 1 foot deep at the center. Within the crater was the airplane's propeller, the crankshaft flange, portions of the engine cowling, pieces of the engine, and parts from the nose gear strut. Immediately to the east of the crater were the right side cabin door and numerous broken pieces of clear Plexiglas.

Airplane debris fanned outward southwest to west to north-northwest from the crater in a 105 degree arc for approximately 246 feet. Within this debris field were broken pieces of fiberglass from the left wingtip and left wheel pant, engine pieces, broken fuel lines, broken oil lines, pieces from the engine mount, pieces from the engine, pieces of wing skin and wing ribs, several radios, pieces from the instrument panel, pieces of cabin interior, the top vacuum pump, both magnetos, and charts and approach plates.

The majority of the airplane wreckage ran along a 330 degree magnetic heading. Approximately 13 feet north-northwest of the crater was the engine. The engine rested inverted on the road. The front portion of the crankcase was broken aft. The accessories were broken off. Just east of the engine were the fuel pump and part of the nose wheel strut. To the north-northwest of the engine were strewn electrical wiring, pieces of fuel lines, and pieces of the engine intake and exhaust manifolds.

Approximately 35 feet north-northwest of the crater were the engine oil pan, pieces of the wheel pants, and pieces of cabin interior.

Approximately 50 feet north-northwest of the crater was the airplane's cabin and part of the aft fuselage. The cabin section was upright and oriented on a 080 degree magnetic heading. The cabin floor was bent upward aft of the rear seats. The doors were broken out.