# NTSB DEN72AD014: Cessna 172F, N5552R, Capitan, NM, September 18, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 18, 1971
- Place: Capitan, NM · CAPITAN, NM
- Location: 33.5392° N, 105.5982° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Capitan, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5392&lon=-105.5982&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163375
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN72AD014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72AD014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3272  71/9/18    CAPITAN,N MEX       CESSNA 172F         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 337
        TIME - 0915                    N5552R              PX-  1  2  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,N MEX           ROSWELL,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-WINDSHIELD
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO KNOWN ICING COND.UN MAINTAIN ALT,TRIED TO LND ON ROAD.NO PITOT HEAT OR DE-ICER EQUIPMENT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5552R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5552R-1971-12-06), registration cancelled 1971-12-06, S/N 17253139 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Other investigations on N5552R (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK70FVW18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70FVW18), May 14, 1970: Cessna 172F (N5552R), Boulder City, NV, substantial damage

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.

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