DEN88LA129

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Rifle, CO · June 14, 1988

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: June 14, 1988, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place: Rifle, CO
Injuries: 1 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N2262ECessna 172
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report August 8, 1989
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19880614063299A
Case key: 17479

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightClimb - to cruise

Terrain condition - blind/box canyonFactor

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor

Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor

StallCause

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The student plt was flying a x-country training flt. The flt was not on the planned route. The plt flew into a box canyon too narrow to complete a turn and could not climb fast enough to clear the terrain at the end of the canyon. The pilot attempted a turn and the airplane stalled. The airplane struck trees and fell to the terrain about 300 feet below the canyon ridge.

Aircraft

Registration: N2262E
Reported as: Cessna 172
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 17271211
Airframe hours: 1,750
Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Instructional · Part 91
Operator: Corporate Aircraft Serv. Of Co
Registered owner: Corp. Arcft Serv. Of Colorado
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · June 1, 1988 · 40 hours before
Destination: MTJ · Montrose, CO
Flight plan: VFR

N2262ERegistration cancelled Oct 12, 1989 · Cessna 172NS/N 17271211 Airframe modelCessna 172N

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 17
Certificate: Student
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 23 total · 23 in this make and model · 4 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility: 15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19880614063299ACessna 172N · Rifle, COStudent was advised not to try mountain route. Struck trees trying to cross a ridge on that route. Claims mistake.Jun 14, 1988 · N2262E · Substantial damage