# NTSB DEN89FA222: Cessna 172N, N739XX, Afton, WY, September 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1989, 01:30 local (07:30 UTC)
- Place: Afton, WY
- Coordinates: 42.720207, -110.920188 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7202&lon=-110.9202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA222
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA222

## Probable cause

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AS THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS RETURNING FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT AT NIGHT, THE ACFT CRASHED ON RISING TERRAIN. IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 10,300 FT, NEAR THE TOP OF A MTN RIDGE.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT IN THE AREA WITH TSTMS.  ABOUT 30 MI SE AT ROCK SPRINGS, WY, THE WX WAS IN PART:  1300 FT BROKEN, 5 MI VIS WITH RAIN, WIND FM 280 DEG AT 17 GUSTING 22 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739XX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739XX-1990-08-10), registration cancelled 1990-08-10, S/N 17270899 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270899
- Airframe hours: 3275
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: France Flying Service, Inc
- Registered owner: France Flying Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1989, 28 hours before
- Departed: PIH, POCATELLO, ID
- Destination: RWL, RAWLINS, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 144 total, 75 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RKS, 30 nm away

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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