Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gunnison, Colorado 81230
Friday, February 9, 1996 14:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GUNNISON
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81230
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 2
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 1555 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID GUC
Elevation of weather observation facility 7673
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 58
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1752
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4262L
NTSB Number FTW96LA115
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier 172G
Aircraft Serial Number 17254331
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 2364
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ANDREW MOFFAT & BILL REEVES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1940 G ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DELTA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82416
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM M. REEVES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8150 COUNTY ROAD 120
Operator City SALIDA
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 81201
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3CO0
Departure City DELTA
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0V2
Destination City SALIDA
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 --