# NTSB FTW95LA025: Cessna 172H, N2721L, Tres Piedras, NM, October 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 22, 1994, 15:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Tres Piedras, NM - Coordinates: 36.639038, -105.95906 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6390&lon=-105.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19288/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA025 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH LED TO MANEUVERING AT SLOW AIRSPEED TO AVOID TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN FURTHER LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS REQUIRED TO CLEAR 10,000 FOOT MOUNTAINS. AS THE PILOT BEGAN HIS CLIMB HE REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT CLEAR THE RIDGE LINE SO HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT 180 DEGREES. DURING THE TURN TO THE LEFT HE NOTICED THE AIRSPEED HAD DROPPED FROM 80 - 90 KNOTS TO 60 KNOTS, AND THE GPS WAS INDICATING A 'SLOW GROUND SPEED.' HE ALSO RECALLED HEARING THE STALL WARNING HORN AND THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE DIPPING. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SEVERAL TREES AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO GROUND IMPACT. ## Factual narrative On October 22, 1994, approximately 1525 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N2721L, was destroyed when it collided with trees near Tres Piedras, New Mexico. The airplane, owned and operated by the private pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and the three passengers received minor injuries. According to the pilot, in an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, after refueling in Raton, New Mexico, he was en route to Durango, Colorado, via the pass between Raton and Taos, New Mexico. In the initial FAA interview and subsequent interviews with the state police the pilot stated that the "terrain in the pass out climbed the performance of the airplane" and he attempted a 180 degree turn to the left at 80 - 90 knots in order to "return to lower terrain." The pilot stated that during the turn the aircraft's airspeed was "60 knots" on the airspeed indicator, and the GPS indicated a "slow ground speed." He further reported that he heard the sound of the "stall warning horn." The pilot also recalled that after he heard the stall warning horn, the "nose pitched down to the low wing," the left wing. During the uncontrolled descent the airplane clipped aspen trees and then collided with the ground. The accident site elevation was approximately 10,560 feet MSL. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2721L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2721L-1996-11-14), registration cancelled 1996-11-14, S/N 17255921 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255921 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Macwherter, George W., doing business as Two One Lima, Inc. - Registered owner: Two One Lima Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RTN, RATON, NM - Destination: DRO, DURANGO, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19941022035279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941022035279A), Oct 22, 1994: Cessna 172H, Tres Piedras, NM, Destroyed. Unable outclimb rising terrain in a pass. Tried to turn around. Stalled and descended into trees. ## Other investigations on N2721L (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 CHI68D0237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0237), Aug 9, 1967: Cessna 172 (N2721L), Sharon Ctr, OH, substantial damage 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.