- Date
- June 25, 2016, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Anthony, NM
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N46204Cessna 172
- Defining event
- Enroute: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160625015119A
- Case key
- 93468
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a cable while maneuvering at a low altitude over water, which resulted in a collision with a cable and impact with water.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he wanted to "fly the river" on the return leg of a cross country flight. He further reported that he was going to fly at a lower altitude over the river, but before doing so, he did a low reconnaissance pass to look for people and objects. After he determined that the area was "safe", the pilot entered low altitude flight above the river. Subsequently, the airplane struck a cable that spanned the river cutting the aircraft in half, the aircraft then impacted the river and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he wanted to "fly the river" on the return leg of a cross country flight. He further reported that he was going to fly at a lower altitude over the river, but before doing so, he did a low reconnaissance pass to look for people and objects. After he determined that the area was "safe", the pilot entered low altitude flight above the river. Subsequently, the airplane struck a cable that spanned the river cutting the aircraft in half, the aircraft then impacted the river and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N46204
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (I)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17257106
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 2,825.2
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 21, 2016
- Departed
- 5T6 · Santa Teresa, NM
- Destination
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Military
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 27, 2016
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 634 total · 139.1 in this make and model · 384.3 as pilot in command · 29.5 in the last 90 days · 7.3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KLRU, 5 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N46204 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.