# NTSB FTW02LA063: Cessna 172N, N3535E, Durango, CO, January 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2002, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Durango, CO - Coordinates: 37.549999, -107.866943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5500&lon=-107.8669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53998/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53998 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA063 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees and mountainous terrain while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the pilot's delay in taking remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - terrain condition - rising - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot and his two friends were on a local mountain sightseeing flight. While flying over a canyon, the pilot commented to his passengers that "the flight was proceeding exactly as I had hoped and that our airspeed and rate of climb were both exactly where I wanted them to be (80 kias and 500 fpm)." While pointing out the terrain features to his passengers, the pilot noticed the airplane's altitude was lower than the canyon rim, and the climb rate and airspeed began to decrease. After the airplane's descent rate increased, he attempted to turn the airplane around and exit the canyon. While executing a turn to the right, the stall warning horn sounded, and the pilot decided to execute a precautionary landing to a clearing. During the ensuing precautionary landing, the airplane impacted trees and the terrain. The elevation at the accident site was 9,430 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2002, approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N single-engine airplane, N3535E, sustained substantial damage after it impacted the terrain while maneuvering near Durango, Colorado. The instrument-rated commercial pilot was not injured and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Sevenbar Aviation Group, doing business as (d.b.a.) Sevenbar Four Corners, of Farmington, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, at 1015. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) and in a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator, the 275-hour pilot reported that he and two friends were on a mountain sightseeing flight. The pilot reported that the airplane entered the Hermosa Drainage canyon area, "a normal okay route," which runs east/west along Purgatory Recreational Area, Purgatory, Colorado. While flying over the canyon, the pilot commented to his passengers that "the flight was proceeding exactly as I had hoped and that our airspeed and rate of climb were both exactly where I wanted them to be (80 kias and 500 fpm)." While pointing out the terrain features to his passengers, he noticed the airplane's altitude was lower than the canyon rim and the climb rate and airspeed began to decrease. After the airplane's descent rate increased, he attempted to turn the airplane around and exit the canyon. While executing a turn to the right, the stall warning horn sounded, and the pilot decided to execute a precautionary landing to a clearing. During the ensuing precautionary landing, the airplane impacted trees and the terrain. The elevation at the accident site was 9,430 feet msl. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the airframe or engine during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3535E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3535E-2012-10-04), registration cancelled 2012-10-04, S/N 17271577, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271577 - Airframe hours: 5444.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sevenbar Aviation Group - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 21, 2001, 94 hours before - Departed: FMN, Farmington, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 15 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 20020109000399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020109000399A), Jan 9, 2002: Cessna 172N, Durango, CO, No damage. (-23) Aircraft departed farmington, NM on the morning of January 09, 2002. Flew up a canyon near Durango, was unable to climb or turn around. A/c crased at… ## Other investigations on N3535E (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW96LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA246), Jun 12, 1996: Cessna 172N (N3535E), Farmington, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing, which resulted in a ground swerve and subsequent collision with a parked airplane. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53998. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Attachment to 6120.1/2 (item 2, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Attachment%20to%206120.1%2F2-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171672&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Operator)-Master.PDF 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.