# NTSB DEN85FA118: Cessna 172 P, N52457, Santa Fe, NM, April 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1985, 22:00 local (Apr 19, 1985, 05:00 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: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16535
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16535/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA118

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, unqualified person (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger (contributing factor)

## Analysis

TWO PERSONS, NEITHER RATED AS PLTS, TOOK THE ACFT WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT OF THE OPERATOR OR ARPT OFFICIALS. THEY TOOK OFF AT NIGHT, & AFTER A SHORT TIME, RETURNED TO THE ARPT TO LAND. DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BOUNCED TWICE, THEN DEPARTED TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 3 MI WEST NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT, BUT IT WAS NOT FND UNTIL LATE ON THE MORNING OF 4/20/85. IMPACT OCCURRED NEAR A HIGH TENSION POWER LINE WHILE AT HIGH SPEED IN A NOSE LOW, SLIGHTLY RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE & ON A HDG OF 140 DEG. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT DID NOT COLLIDE WITH THE WIRES. BOTH OCCUPANTS HAD BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR AS LINE BOYS. ONE WAS STILL EMPLOYED & HAD ACCESS TO THE OFFICE. BOTH HAD BEEN DRINKING BEER FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE FLT. TOX SHECKS SHOWED THE L FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT HAD AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.239%; THE R FRONT OCCUPANT HAD A LVL OF 0.184%.NEITHER OCCUPANT HAD USED THE AVAILABLE SEAT BELT OR SHOULDER HARNESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52457](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52457-1989-03-02), registration cancelled 1989-03-02, S/N 17274531 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274531
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Santa Fe Aviation
- Registered owner: Ross & Sylvial Palmer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1985

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAF, 3 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 19850418016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850418016169A), Apr 18, 1985: Cessna 172P, Santa Fe, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Neither person was a pilot when they took an airplane for ride at night. Both occupants were intoxicated.

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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