# NTSB FTW97LA085: Cessna 172N, N739QE, Steamboat Spgs, CO, January 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 1997, 12:59 local (19:59 UTC) - Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO - Coordinates: 40.489303, -106.830924 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4893&lon=-106.8309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20146 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20146/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA085 ## Probable cause Failure of the flight instructor and the dual student to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors were the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, inadequate altitude in which to clear obstacles, and the dual student's lack of familiarity with the geographical area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - visual lookout - inadequate, dual student (cause) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, dual student (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, dual student (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis The flight instructor had given the private pilot a mountain flying checkout, and they were returning to the airport. The pilot said he had never flown close to the mountains, so the instructor suggested that he fly down a wide canyon that led back to the airport. They descended to 7,200 feet msl and the pilot remarked that they would have to watch for wires. The instructor became preoccupied watching elk and did not see the power lines. He heard a 'loud scraping noise' and felt the airplane decelerate and shudder. The airplane descended into a clump of aspen trees. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 1997, at 1259 mountain standard time, N739QE, a Cessna 172N, was substantially damaged when it collided with power lines during descent near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The flight instructor, private pilot receiving instruction, and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Steamboat Springs approximately 1200. According to the flight instructor's written statement and verbal statements he gave to the Routt County Sheriff's Office, he had given the pilot a mountain flying checkout and they were returning to Steamboat Springs, flying at 11,500 feet msl (mean sea level). The pilot said he had never flown close to the mountains, so the instructor suggested that he fly down a wide canyon that led back to the airport. They descended to 7,200 feet msl and the pilot remarked that they would have to watch for wires. The instructor became preoccupied watching elk and did not see the power lines. He heard "a loud scraping noise" and felt the airplane decelerate and shudder. It then fell into a clump of aspen trees in the Mad Creek drainage. Written statements submitted by the two pilots to the Routt County Sheriff's Office (attached) and a witness'statement (also attached) corroborated the above. Help was summoned by use of a cellular telephone. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739QE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739QE-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 17270714, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270714 - Airframe hours: 5588 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: 9qe, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1996, 69 hours before - Departed: SBS, STEAMBOAT SPNGS, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HDN, 15 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 19970117000659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970117000659A), Jan 17, 1997: Cessna 172N, Steamboat Sprin, CO, Destroyed. Acft was traversing a canyon while sightseeing and struck power lines, the acft crashed into some trees. 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.