# NTSB FTW81FA091: Cessna 172RG, N5086U, Grants, NM, May 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 15, 1981
- Place: Grants, NM · GRANTS, NM
- Location: 35.1542° N, 107.8323° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grants, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1542&lon=-107.8323&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1733  81/5/15  NR.GRANTS,NM          CESSNA 172RG        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 230
        TIME - 1941                    N5086U              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 116 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEEDLES,CA                  ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     230
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           8                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5086U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5086U-1998-07-28), registration cancelled 1998-07-28, S/N 172RG0223 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810515026149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810515026149A), May 15, 1981: Cessna 172RG, Grants, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot continued VFR flight into cloud-covered mountainous terrain. Flew into mountain. Aircraft burned.

## Other investigations on N5086U (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 UNK66X0119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK66X0119), Jan 10, 1966: Cessna 206 (N5086U), Villanil, Serbia, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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