# NTSB DEN86LA055: Cessna 172RG, N4849V, Las Vegas, NM, December 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1985, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NM
- Coordinates: 35.590553, -105.219459 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5906&lon=-105.2195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16907
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16907/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA055

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - object - fence
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEPART FROM A PVT GRASS STRIP, WHICH IS LOCATED ON A PLATEAU AT AN ELEV OF APRX 6,400 MSL. THE GRASS STRIP, WHICH IS APRX 3,000 FT IN LENGTH, HAS AN UPSLOPE OF ABOUT 10% FOR THE FIRST HALF AND A DOWNSLOPE AT ABOUT 10% ON THE SECOND HALF. THE PLT STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ACHIEVE FLT DUE TO THE ELEV AND ROUGHNESSOF THE GRASS STRIP. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS FLT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ACHIEVED, HE ABORTED, BUT TOO LATE. THE ACFT CONTACTED A FENCE AND ROUGH TERRAIN DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4849V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4849V-1988-11-23), registration cancelled 1988-11-23, S/N 172RG0399 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0399
- Airframe hours: 1660
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James D. Martin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 14, 1985, 90 hours before
- Destination: F54, ARLINGTON, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 161 total, 85 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 239° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVS, 24 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 19851228066769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851228066769A), Dec 28, 1985: Cessna 172RG, Las Vegas, NM, Substantial damage. Unable to attain takeoff speed, pilot aborted and aircraft ran off the side of the runway. High density altitude.

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.