# NTSB DEN85FA008: Cessna 195A, N3086B, Santa Fe, NM, October 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1984, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Santa Fe, NM
- Location: 35.6870° N, 105.9378° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Fe, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6870&lon=-105.9378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16505/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA008

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - comm/nav equipment,vor receiver - other
  - maintenance,inspection - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - comm/nav equipment - erratic (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(artcc) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE TRANSPONDER WAS INOP & THE PLT LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH ARTCC 2 TIMES. AS HE APCHD THE DESTN (SANTA FE), INSTRUCTIONS WERE RELAYED VIA ANOTHER ACFT. WHEN ASKED WHAT TYPE APCH HE WANTED, THE PLT RESPONDED, 'WELL IF THEY CAN GET ME LOWER, BELOW IT, I'LL CANCEL.'  A MESSAGE WAS THEN RELAYED THAT ARTCC COULD NOT CLEAR HIM BELOW HIS ALT OF 13,000'. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PLT RADIOED HE HAD CROSSED OVER THE VOR & WAS DSCNDG TO 8000'. THE CONTROLLER TRIED 2 TIMES TO CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY, THEN RELAYED A MESSAGE TO SQUAWK 1200 (VFR CODE), THAT RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & TO CALLSANTE FE TOWER. THE PLT DID NOT CONTACT THE TOWER NOR LAND AT THE ARPT. ON 10/10/84, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED & THE ACFT WAS FOUND WERE IT HAD CRASHED NEAR THOMPSON PEAK AT APRX THE 9400' LEVEL. THIS LOCATION WAS APRX 15 MI ENE OF THE ARPT &THE VOR. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE DSCNT WAS STARTED APRX 12 MI EAST OF THE VOR, THEN THE ACFT TURNED NORTH TWD THE CRASH SITE. THE ACFT HAD PREV 'RADIO PROBLEMS.'  NO LOGBOOK ENTRY FND FOR VOR CHK. PLT LAST LOGGED INTRUMENT TIME ON 4/17/82.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3086B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3086B-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 7971, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 195A
- Registry model: [Cessna 195](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195) (registry code 2073102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jacobs L6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-l6) (registry code 35005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7971
- Airframe hours: 2335
- Engines: JACOBS R-755-9 245 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Buescher, Donald A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1983, 15 hours before
- Departed: LIBERAL, KS
- Destination: SANTE FE, NM
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,522 total, 256 in this make and model, 1,480 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAF, 13 nm away

## 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 19841004055349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841004055349A), Oct 4, 1984: Cessna 195A, Santa Fe, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Descended without clearance or closing IFR flight plan. Impacted trees on the side of a mountain at 9500 MSL.

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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