# NTSB FTW85LA120: Cessna 172P, N54149, Comanche, TX, February 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1985, 20:00 local (Feb 19, 1985, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Comanche, TX
- Coordinates: 31.889636, -98.600601 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8896&lon=-98.6006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21674
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21674/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA120

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - total, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT FLEW THE ACFT INTO RISING TERRAIN IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE DURING A PERIOD OF LOW CEILINGSON A DARK NIGHT. THE PLT STATED HE WAS DESCENDING TO STAY CLEAR OF THE OVERCAST AND NEVER SAW THE GROUND. PLT HAD A TOTAL OF 80 HRS FLT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54149](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54149-1988-11-28), registration cancelled 1988-11-28, S/N 17274890 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274890
- Airframe hours: 1950
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cothran Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1984, 140 hours before
- Departed: F54, ARLINGTON, TX
- Destination: BWD, BROWNWOOD, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWD, 25 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 19850218005089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850218005089A), Feb 18, 1985: Cessna 172P, Comanche, TX, Destroyed. Collided with trees during cruise flight in IFR conditions. Pilot kept descending to stay under overcast in dark.

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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