Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deming, New Mexico 88030
Friday, November 18, 1994 11:10 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT TO SURVEY HUNTING AREAS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AFTER A SEARCH FOR THE OVERDUE THE AIRCRAFT, THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN STEEPLY RISING, RUGGED TERRAIN. THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT; HOWEVER, WIND CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAIN AREA WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING WERE OBSERVED BY A BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) RANGER TO BE 'GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 35 KNOTS.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN (20 DEGREE SLOPE) ON A MEASURED HEADING OF 350 DEGREES MAGNECTIC, AND 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN RELATIVE TO THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY STRUCTURAL FAILURES OR MECHANICAL DEFECTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE IN MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE RISING TERRAIN AND GUSTY, HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/18/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City DEMING
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88030
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1048 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 316
Weather Observation Facility ID DMN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4309
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 70
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1873
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 18 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2134
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54378
NTSB Number FTW95FA050
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17274967
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 5 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1591
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEMING FLYING SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1293
Aircraft Owner City DEMING
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code DMFA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --