# NTSB DEN87LA055: Cessna 172H, N1741F, Carrizozo, NM, February 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 16, 1987, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Carrizozo, NM
- Coordinates: 33.640148, -105.880531 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6401&lon=-105.8805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17170
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17170/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA055

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT ENTERED CLOUDS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT'S NEXT VISUAL CONTACT WAS A MOUNTAIN IN HIS FLT PATH. DURING MANEUVERING TO AVOID A CRASH THE ACFT STRUCK ROUGH TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1741F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17255136
- Airframe hours: 4839
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eugene B. Plunkett
- Registered owner: Eugene B. Plunkett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1986, 36 hours before
- Departed: Q37, CARRIZOZO, NM
- Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 352 total, 44 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RUI, 48 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 19870216002739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870216002739A), Feb 16, 1987: Cessna 172H, Carrizozo, NM, Destroyed. The aircraft struck a mountain in IFR conditions. The VFR pilot did not receive a preflight weather briefing.

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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