# NTSB DEN74FTE32: Cessna 172D, N2324U, Walsenburg, CO, December 24, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 24, 1973
- Place: Walsenburg, CO · WALSENBURG, CO
- Location: 37.6306° N, 104.7817° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Walsenburg, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6306&lon=-104.7817&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 5 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74FTE32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FTE32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3808  73/12/24 NR.WALSENBURG,COLO    CESSNA 172D         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 2400
        TIME - 1330                    N2324U              PX-  0  4  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1200 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BROOMFIELD,COLO             FARMINGTON,N MEX             ALAMOSA,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WHITEOUT
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          BLOWING SNOW                                             270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           50                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PLT ADV AGAINST VFR BY FSS.ACFT CRASHED IN 5FT OF SNOW IN BLIZZARD.WIND EST AT 50-60MPH BY SHERIFF
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2324U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2324U-1974-02-15), registration cancelled 1974-02-15, S/N 17249924 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D
- Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19731224041049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731224041049A), Dec 24, 1973: Cessna 172D, Walsenburg, CO, Destroyed. Plt adv against VFR by fss. Acft crashed in 5FT of snow in blizzard. Wind EST at 50-60MPH by sheriff

## Other investigations on N2324U (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 ANC71AA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC71AA049), Mar 28, 1971: Cessna 172 (N2324U), Glenallen, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal

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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