# NTSB LAX04LA054: Cessna 172S, N518ER, Wikieup, AZ, November 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 2003, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Wikieup, AZ - Coordinates: 34.875, -113.288887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8750&lon=-113.2889&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58428/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an en route altitude that did not provide adequate terrain clearance, and resulted in the in-flight collision with terrain. The rising terrain and the blind/box canyon were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor) - descent - intentional, pilot in command - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While maneuvering over rapidly rising mountainous terrain, the pilot entered a box-like canyon and collided with terrain. The flight school's management indicated that the pilot's approved flight plan specified an en route cruise altitude of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot said he deviated from the approval and descended initially to 1,000 feet above the ground, about 7,000 msl, to view features on the surface. Minutes prior to the accident, the pilot was flying over a valley. Unable to outclimb the rising terrain, which led into a box-like canyon, the pilot maneuvered the airplane until it impacted the mountainside, about 7,200 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On November 29, 2003, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172S, N518ER, impacted the side of a mountain while maneuvering about 21 nautical miles northeast of Wikieup, Arizona. The private pilot was not injured during the solo instructional flight, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University located in Prescott, Arizona, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Bullhead City, Arizona, about 1307. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his planned cruise altitude to Prescott was 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl), but he elected to cruise at an elevation lower to the terrain. The pilot stated that while cruising about 7,000 feet msl, which was initially 1,000 feet above ground level, he entered an area of rising mountainous terrain. The pilot attempted to gain altitude, and he adjusted the airplane engine's fuel mixture. The pilot stated that the engine's tachometer was indicating between 2,300 and 2,500 rpm. No unusual vibrations were detected, but the airplane would not outclimb the rising terrain. The pilot further indicated that he entered a "dead end canyon," and he did not observe any suitable landing site while maneuvering over the ground. The pilot indicated that he stalled the airplane moments before it impacted the upsloping mountainside. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's flight department management reported to the Safety Board investigator that the pilot's approved flight plan indicated an en route cruise altitude of 9,500 feet msl. According to the management, the pilot acknowledged that en route he had decided to view features on the surface and had descended. He told management that minutes prior to the accident, he had been flying over a valley. Then, unable to outclimb the rising terrain which led into a box-like canyon, he had maneuvered the airplane until it impacted the mountainside about 7,200 feet msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518ER-2009-03-26), registration cancelled 2009-03-26, S/N 172S8922, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8922 - Airframe hours: 1682 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Registered owner: BCC Equipment Leasing Crop. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 13, 2003, 31 hours before - Departed: IFP, Bullhead City, AZ - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 19, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 102 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 47 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 20031129033769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031129033769A), Nov 29, 2003: Cessna 172S, Bagdad, AZ, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot fiore while on a cross country training flight deviated from his assigned flight plan. The flight plan filed, required him to fly from bullhead… 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.