# NTSB DEN66A0055: Cessna 172D, N8559X, Placitas, NM, January 15, 1966

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 15, 1966
- Place: Placitas, NM · PLACITAS, NM
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 174126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN66A0055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66A0055

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0140  66/1/15    PLACITAS N MEX      CESSNA 172D         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0830                    N8559X              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  56, 6315 TOTAL HOURS, 100
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT SUFFERED HEART ATTACK
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE-01/16/66.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8559X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8559X-1967-07-21), registration cancelled 1967-07-21, S/N P17257159, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D
- Registry model: [Cessna P172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p172d) (registry code 2072202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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.