DEN99LA063

During the flight from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Farmington, New Mexico, in which no flight plan was filed, the pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were unable to identify the mountains due to the dark night conditions. The pilot realized the VORs were inoperative, and that he was disoriented. He identified the city lights of Dulce, New Mexico, and decided to divert to the old airport, even though it was closed. The pilot began experiencing 'unusual attitudes and was beginning to feel the effects of vertigo,' as he began to encounter snow, fog, and partial obscuration. The aircraft's windshield had also become 'cake[d] with ice.' The controller advised the pilot of the airport's position. He was unable to identify the runway, but observed a police car's flashing light and made the decision to land. Upon landing, the aircraft veered to the left of the runway and impacted a ditch 70 yards from the runway centerline, then nosed over. During the pilot's weather briefings in Farmington and Colorado Springs, the pilot was advised of an AIRMET that had been issued for gusty winds with possible freezing rain and rime icing below 18,000 feet (FL 180), and moderate to severe turbulence en route.

On April 7, 1999, at 2259 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N96212, was substantially damaged following a forced landing after encountering icing and instrument meteorological conditions near Dulce, New Mexico. The non-instrument rated private pilot and the instrument-rated private pilot-certificated passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated by Four Corners Aviation Inc., of Farmington, New Mexico, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight that originated from the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 1910. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed.

According to the pilot, prior to departure from Farmington on the morning of the accident, he obtained a weather briefing from the Albuquerque Flight Service Station (FSS). The forecast was for ceilings at 14,000 feet and visibility greater than 6 miles. He stated that he was told the weather conditions were likely to clear by 2100. In addition, there was an AIRMET (airman's meteorological information) for gusty winds with possible freezing rain and rime icing below 18,000 feet (FL 180), and moderate to severe turbulence en route. While in Colorado Springs, he obtained an updated weather briefing using the computer located in the airport terminal.

According to the pilot, after passing over Alamosa during their return flight to Farmington, darkness made it difficult for the pilot to identify the mountains. While flying by means of radio navigation, the pilot observed that the TO/FROM indicators on the VORs (VHF omnidirectional radio ranges) were inoperative, and realized they were "somewhat off course." He was able to see the city lights of Dulce and decided to divert to the old airport, even though it was closed. He attempted to activate the runway lights, but was unsuccessful. He then contacted the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and was advised to maintain VFR until reaching 12,000 feet to enable the aircraft's detection on radar.

At that time, the pilot stated that he began experiencing "unusual attitudes and was beginning to feel the effects of vertigo," as they began to encounter snow, fog, and partial obscuration. He also noticed that the aircraft's windshield had become "cake[d] with ice." His pilot-rated passenger declared an emergency, and informed the controller that they needed to land immediately.

The controller advised the pilot of the airport's position, but the pilot was unable to observe the runway, and instead identified a road on which to land. As he approached the road, he observed a flashing light to his right, and knew it was the police called to assist them. He stated that he was still unable to identify the runway, but was able to recognize the police car, and made the decision to land. The pilot recalled flying over the police car as he started to flare for landing. The next thing the pilot remembered was waking up in the ambulance.

According to an FAA inspector who went to the accident scene, it appeared that during landing, the aircraft veered to the left of the runway and impacted a ditch approximately 70 yards from the runway centerline. The airplane then nosed over. The nose and left landing gear were sheared off during the impact sequence, and the vertical stabilizer was bent.