- Date
- August 28, 1992, 21:58 local (Aug 29, 1992, 03:58 UTC)
- Place
- Pagosa Springs, CO
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7032ECessna 175A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920828034049A
- Case key
- 18160
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot experiencing spatial disorientation and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors were: the pilot's total lack of instrument experience and dark night conditions.
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.
Analysis
The non instrument rated pilot departed runway 01 on a dark clear night with no moon. A witness said the airplane made an immediate sharp left bank, then an immediate right bank, followed by another left bank and an immediate right bank. He then lost sight of the airplane. The airplane impacted the runway clear zone approximately 0.5 miles beyond the departure end of the runway. No airframe or powerplant discrepancies were discovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7032E
- Reported as
- Cessna 175A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 56532
- Airframe hours
- 4,993
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Skylarkers, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Skylarkers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 14, 1992 · 11 hours before
- Departed
- 2V1
- Destination
- FMN · Farmington, NM
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 2V1 · Stevens Field, runway 1, 6,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 311 total · 3 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FMN, 75 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.