# NTSB DEN87LA033: Cessna 172N, Nathrop, CO, December 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1986, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Nathrop, CO
- Coordinates: 38.829921, -106.14083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8299&lon=-106.1408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17159
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17159/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA033

## Analysis

THE CANADIAN REGISTERED ACFT, WITH A PVT PLT AND INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX AND TWO PAXS ABOARD, TOOK OFF FROM CANON CITY, CO, ENROUTE TO GUNNISON, CO, TO REFUEL. THIS WAS A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT TO ALLOW THE PLT TO BUILD NECESSARY FLT TIME TOWARDS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE. THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN IN FORMATION WITH ANOTHER CANADIAN ACFT. THE PLT WAS NAVIGATING VIA PILOTAGE AND NOTICED HE WAS FLYING NORTH INSTEAD OF WEST. THE INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX ABOARD THE OTHER ACFT ADVISED THE PLT TO FLY A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 240 DEGS. THE PLT LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE OTHER ACFT AND A TURN WAS MADE OVER THE WRONG CHECKPOINT. THE ACFT WAS AT 10,800 FT MSL AND CLIMBING SLOWLY WHEN THE PLT SAW HIGHER TERRAIN AHEAD. THE ACFT WAS IN A BLIND CANYON AND THE PLT COULD NOT REVERSE COURSE. THE INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND PURPOSELY STALLED INTO A SNOW COVERED 12,000 FT MOUNTAIN. THE OTHER ACFT LANDED SAFELY AT GUNNISON.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper assistance - not issued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,turn capability - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, passenger (cause)
  - stall - intentional, passenger (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGYDG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17561674
- Airframe hours: 3666
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Lachute Air Service, Ltd.
- Registered owner: Marcel Ste.-Marie
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 13, 1986, 29 hours before
- Departed: 1V6, CANON CITY, CO
- Destination: GUC, GUNNISON, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 91 total, 91 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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