# NTSB DEN88FA023: Cessna 172RG, N9447B, Pintura, UT, November 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1987, 19:51 local (Nov 7, 1987, 02:51 UTC)
- Place: Pintura, UT
- Coordinates: 37.589008, -113.190521 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5890&lon=-113.1905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17341
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17341/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA023

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

BFR TAKEOFF, THE PLT WAS BRIEFED ABT LGT TO MOD RIME ICING IN CLDS & PRECIP ABV THE FRZG LVL. THE FRZG LVL WAS FORECAST TO BE AT 7000' TO 9000' IN THE AREA OF PRESCOTT, SLOPING DOWNWARD TO THE NORTH. THE PLT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN, BUT DID RCV VFR FLT FLWG AFTER HE WAS EN ROUTE. DRG THE FLT, HE OBTAINED ADNL WX INFO & FINALLY INDICATED HE WOULD PROCEED TO CEDAR CITY. AT ONE POINT, HE ERRED IN RPRTG HIS ALT. LATER, WHEN ASKED BY ATC, HE SAID THE ACFT WAS NOT ACCUMULATING ICE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS A DARK NGT. AT 1962 MST, THE PLT INQUIRED ABT THE DIST TO CEDAR CITY & WAS TOLD IT WAS AT HIS ONE O'CLOCK PSN AT 23 MI. HE ACKNOWLEDGED & THIS WAS HIS LAST KNOWN TRANSMISSION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST & IT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON WOODED TRRN AT AN ELEV OF ABT 8050'. THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS OVR A 900' AREA. NO PRE-IMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS FND. THE 1950 MST WX AT CEDAR CITY (ELEV  5622') WAS IN PART 1500' SCT, 3000' OVC, VIS 10 MI; BUT IMC WAS RPRTD ABT 15 MI SOUTH. ACFT WAS NOT CERT FOR IFR. PLT RCVD IFR RATING 3 MONS EARLIER; HAD 4.7 HRS ACTUAL WX TIME

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9447B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9447B-1989-10-12), registration cancelled 1989-10-12, S/N 172RG0823 (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: 172RG0823
- Airframe hours: 508
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jack H. And Geneva L. Woosley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 1987, 58 hours before
- Departed: PRC, PRESCOTT, AZ
- Destination: PVU, PROVO, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 397 total, 395 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CDC, 18 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 19871106082159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871106082159A), Nov 6, 1987: Cessna 172RG, Pintura, UT, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Hit trees on mountain side at night with clouds and snowshowers in area. Had been advised of weather and icing..

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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