# NTSB FTW78FQD13: Cessna 172M, N1440U, El Paso, TX, March 8, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 8, 1978
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143760
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FQD13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FQD13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0263   78/3/8  NR.EL PASO,TX         CESSNA 172M         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0930                    N1440U              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 27, 391 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            84 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SIMULATED CONDITIONS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      56
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          240                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- INST ALLOWED STU PLT TO DESCEND TO LOW ON PRACTICE FORCED LANDING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1440U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1440U-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 17267107, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780308002799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780308002799A), Mar 8, 1978: Cessna 172M, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Inst allowed stu plt to descend to low on practice forced landing

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.

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