# NTSB FTW83FA362: Cessna 172F, N5259F, El Paso, TX, August 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1983, 11:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.800268, -106.360702 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8003&lon=-106.3607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20752
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA362
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20752/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA362

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

TWO PLTS & 2 PASSENGERS DEPARTED SAN ANGELO, TX, ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, ONE OF THE PLTS, WHO HAD 95 HRS OF FLYING TIME, WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) FOR THE 1ST LEG OF THE X-COUNTRY TO EL PASO, TX. ON THE NEXT LEG, THE OTHER PLT ASSUMED DUTIES AS PIC & SIGNED THE FLT PLAN. DURING AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF WITH 5600 FT REMAINING, THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AFTER ROLLING AN ESTMATED 1500 FT. IT THEN CLIMBED TO AN ESTIMATED MAX ALT OF ABOUT 300 FT. THE PLT ACCEPTED A TURN TO 120 DEG TO MAKE WAY FOR A DEPARTING JET. AFTER STARTING THE TURN, THE ACFT SUDDENLY DROPPED, LOSING ABOUT 1/3 OF ITS ALT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT IT CLIMBED & DROPPED 2 MORE TIMES. ON THE LOST TIME, IT CRASHED IN THE DESERT IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE PROPS HAD EVIDENCE OF HI ROTATIONAL DAMAGE. THE DENSITY ALT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 6424 FT. TOWER PERSONNEL DESCRIBED THE ACFT AS BEING NEAR ITS STALL SPEED FROM LIFT-OFF UNTIL IT CRASHED. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 38 LBS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5259F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5259F-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 17253371, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17253371
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: U S Air Force, doing business as Aero Club
- Registered owner: U.S. Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: PEQ, PECOS, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ELP, El Paso International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 71 total, 7 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 2 nm away

## 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 19830807039099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830807039099A), Aug 7, 1983: Cessna 172F, El Paso, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled on climbout. Cartwheeled after ground impact. Was slightly over gross. Hot day and a light wind are factors

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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