# NTSB DEN73FQA07: Cessna 172, N5500R, Grants, NM, July 9, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1972
- Place: Grants, NM · GRANTS, NM
- Location: 35.1542° N, 107.8323° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grants, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1542&lon=-107.8323&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166893
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73FQA07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FQA07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2128   72/7/9    GRANTS,N MEX        CESSNA 172          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 566
        TIME - 1817                    N5500R              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 110 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRANTS MILAN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRANTS,N MEX                LAS VEGAS,NEV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      69
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           80                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- TURNED TOWARD RISING TERRAIN TO AVOID RAIN SHWR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5500R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5500R-1973-09-13), registration cancelled 1973-09-13, S/N 17253070 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Grants Milan

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.
