# NTSB DEN87FA039: Cessna 172E, N7821U, Crossroads, NM, December 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1986, 23:31 local (Dec 21, 1986, 06:31 UTC)
- Place: Crossroads, NM
- Coordinates: 33.509307, -103.330093 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5093&lon=-103.3301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17089
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17089/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA039

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WITH NO SIMULATED OR ACTUAL INSTRUMENT AND A TOTAL OF 9 HOURS NIGHT FLT TIME CALLED THE AMARILLO FAA FSS, WHO BRIEFED HIM ON WX FOR A FLT FROM BORGER, TEXAS, TO BIG SPRING, TEXAS, LOCATED 210 NM SOUTH. HE WAS BRIEFED ON MARGINAL VFR WX EN ROUTE AND IMC WX WITH CEILING OF 800 FEET AT DESTINATION. HE ALSO WAS ADVISED OF A WX FRONTAL SYSTEM EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA OVERNIGHT WITH WIDESPREAD IMC BY MORNING. HE DEPARTED ON THE NIGHT VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLT BUT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION. THE FLT WAS REPORTED MISSING 9 DAYS AFTER TAKEOFF. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 84 NM WEST OF COURSE IN FLAT, VERY REMOTE RANGE LAND. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A LEFT WING LOW, 30 DEGREES NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7821U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7821U-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 17251821, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17251821
- Airframe hours: 4419
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hoover F. Hu
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1985, 105 hours before
- Departed: BCD, BORGER, TX
- Destination: 21X5, BIG SPRING, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 93 total, 93 in this make and model, 93 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOB, 43 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 19861220086459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861220086459A), Dec 20, 1986: Cessna 172E, Crossroads, NM, Destroyed. The aircraft impacted the ground at night. Suspect VFR student lost ground references in night. IFR conditions.

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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