# NTSB DEN78FQA45: Cessna 172, N12748, Rio Rancho, NM, July 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 29, 1978
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM · RIO RANCHO, NM
- Location: 35.2334° N, 106.6645° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio Rancho, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2334&lon=-106.6645&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FQA45
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FQA45

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2274  78/7/29    RIO RANCHO,NM       CESSNA 172          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 19, 85 TOTAL
        TIME - 2035                    N12748              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12748](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12748-1981-06-06), registration cancelled 1981-06-06, S/N 17262227 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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