# NTSB DEN87FA011: Cessna 172P, N65184, Gallup, NM, October 30, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 29, 1986, 17:15 local (Oct 30, 1986, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Gallup, NM
- Coordinates: 35.519367, -108.73014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5194&lon=-108.7301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA011

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE FLYING AT A LOW LEVEL SPOTTING DEER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO FLY OVER A RIDGELINE WITH TERRAIN THAT ROSE FASTER THAN THE ACFT CLIMB CAPABILITY. AT LOW AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE HE INITIATED A TURN TO REVERSE COURSE TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN. THE ACFT STALLED, STRUCK TREES AND IMPACTED STEEP ROCKY TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65184](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65184-1988-11-02), registration cancelled 1988-11-02, S/N 17275703 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275703
- Airframe hours: 1665
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gallup Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1986, 84 hours before
- Departed: GUP, GALLUP, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total, 17 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GUP, 22 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 19861029056969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861029056969A), Oct 29, 1986: Cessna 172P, Gallup, NM, Destroyed. The aircraft stalled while maneuvering at low altitude. Pilot failed to compute weight and balance. Was over gross

## Other investigations on N65184 (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 DEN85LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA171), Jun 24, 1985: Cessna 172 (N65184), Gallup, NM, 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.

---
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.