# NTSB DEN89LA216: Cessna 172N, N75815, Provo, UT, September 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1989, 20:45 local (Sep 14, 1989, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Provo, UT
- Location: 40.2338° N, 111.6585° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Provo, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2338&lon=-111.6585&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17783
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17783/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA216

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS PRACTICING INSTRUMENTS AT NIGHT. HE SAID HE WAS FLYING THE BACK COURSE ILS TO RWY 31. HE DECIDED HE WAS TOO LOW AND ADDED POWER, BUT THE PLANE STRUCK SHALLOW WATER AND MUD AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N75815 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267972
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Castle/Shipman
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Destination: PVU
- Airport: runway 31, 7,091 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 788 total, 400 in this make and model, 748 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890913034929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890913034929A), Sep 13, 1989: Cessna 172N, Provo, UT, Substantial damage. Flew into swamp while practicing ILS back course practice approach. Had no safety pilot.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.