# NTSB FTW96LA115: Cessna 172G, N4262L, Gunnison, CO, February 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 1996, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Gunnison, CO - Coordinates: 38.539882, -106.920135 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5399&lon=-106.9201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19759 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19759/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA115 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis While in cruise at 13,000 feet msl on a cross-country flight, engine power gradually deteriorated to a total loss of power. The pilot attempted remedial action without effect and made a forced landing in a field approximately 4 miles from an airport. During the landing, the aircraft encountered rough terrain and was damage. An examination of the aircraft fuel, fuel system, air system, engine, and carburetor provided no evidence of abnormalities which would cause a loss of power. The pilot had the same experience with this aircraft approximately six months earlier in the same area and landed the aircraft in a field without damage. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 1996, at 1415 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172G, N4262L, conducted a forced landing in a field approximately 4 miles west of Gunnison County Airport, Gunnison, Colorado, following a total loss of power. The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and a VFR flight plan was filed for this personal flight which originated in Delta, Colorado, at 1415. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, the aircraft was in cruise flight at 13,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) when engine power gradually deteriorated. The pilot said he used carburetor heat, switched tanks, and tried different mixture settings. He said the engine control inputs had no effect and the engine lost all power. A forced landing was conducted in a snow covered field beside U. S. highway 50. An examination of the aircraft fuel, fuel system, air system, engine, and carburetor was conducted and no abnormalities were found. Outside air temperature at 13,000 feet msl at the time was approximately minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the pilot, he had a similar experience in the same aircraft and area in July 1995, and landed the aircraft without damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4262L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4262L-2001-04-10), registration cancelled 2001-04-10, S/N 17254331 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254331 - Airframe hours: 2364 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William M. Reeves - Registered owner: Andrew Moffat & Bill Reeves - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1995, 11 hours before - Departed: 3CO0, DELTA, CO - Destination: 0V2, SALIDA, CO - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 132 total, 121 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GUC, 4 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 19960209047029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960209047029A), Feb 9, 1996: Cessna 172, Gunnison, CO, No damage. (-16) Review of pilot logbook and aircraft maintenanc records indicated no violations of FAR part 61 and 91 relating to airmen qualifications, recency of… ## Other investigations on N4262L (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 DEN99LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA166), Sep 19, 1999: Cessna 172G (N4262L), Delta, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. Factors were inadequate preflight planing, inadequate in-flight planing and rough uneven, unsuitable terrain for a 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. --- 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.