# NTSB DEN93FA008: Cessna 172P, N63016, Woody Creek, CO, October 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1992, 10:31 local (16:31 UTC)
- Place: Woody Creek, CO
- Coordinates: 39.280567, -106.89923 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2806&lon=-106.8992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18239
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18239/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93FA008

## Probable cause

AIRCRAFT CLIMB PERFORMANCE EXCEEDED.  FACTORS WERE:  THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN FLYING, AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

A PASSENGER SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN AND ENTERED A CANYON.  HE THEN NOTICED THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 10,800 FEET AND CLIMBING, BUT THE TREES WERE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TREES, IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND CAME TO REST IN A CREEK BED. PERSONAL FLIGHT PLANNING PAPERS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE PILOT PLANNED TO FLY TO GRANBY, COLORADO, VIA PILOTAGE.  THE PILOT HAD LIVED IN THE AREA FOR ONE MONTH AND HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED A MOUNTAIN FLYING CHECK OUT.  THIS WAS HER FIRST CROSS COUNTRY MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AIRFRAME OF POWERPLANT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.  DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,443 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63016](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63016-1995-05-05), registration cancelled 1995-05-05, S/N 17275376 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275376
- Airframe hours: 4745
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aspen Base Operation, Inc., doing business as Aspen Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Aspen Base Operation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 1992, 7 hours before
- Departed: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 93 total, 36 in this make and model, 39 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 8 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 19921024043209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921024043209A), Oct 24, 1992: Cessna 172P, Woody Creek, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Turned into canyon on climbout. Unable clear rising terrain. Struck trees. Density altitude. Misjudged performance.

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.