# NTSB DEN99LA063: Cessna 172P, N96212, Dulce, NM, April 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 1999, 22:59 local (Apr 8, 1999, 04:59 UTC) - Place: Dulce, NM - Coordinates: 36.930065, -106.990089 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9301&lon=-106.9901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46086/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command becoming disoriented during cruise flight, and his intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions without proper certification. Factors were the existing weather conditions that included snow, fog, obscuration and icing, the dark night light conditions, the rough terrain condition on which to make a forced landing, and the closed runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - normal - became lost/disoriented - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - flight to new destination - initiated, pilot in command - In flight encounter with weather, climb - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - airport/facilities - closed (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96212](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96212-2002-06-17), registration cancelled 2002-06-17, S/N 17276041, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276041 - Airframe hours: 7637 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Four Corners Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 2, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: COS, COLORADO SPGS, CO - Destination: FMN, FARMINGTON, NM - Airport: NM01, Dulce Airport, runway 15, 4,800 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 38 in this make and model, 39 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Temperature: 30 °F ## 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 19990407003209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990407003209A), Apr 7, 1999: Cessna 172P, Dulce, NM, Substantial damage. VFR pilot encountered IFR conditions and requested ATC assistance to return to the arpt at farmington, NM, the acft subsequently experienced icing and… 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.