Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carrizozo, New Mexico 88301
Monday, February 16, 1987 16:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT ENTERED CLOUDS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT'S NEXT VISUAL CONTACT WAS A MOUNTAIN IN HIS FLT PATH. DURING MANEUVERING TO AVOID A CRASH THE ACFT STRUCK ROUGH TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/16/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CARRIZOZO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88301
Event Date Year 1987
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID RUI
Elevation of weather observation facility 6911
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 237
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 16 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33111
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1741F
NTSB Number DEN87LA055
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier 172H
Aircraft Serial Number 17255136
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Feb 1 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 4839
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EUGENE B. PLUNKETT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 614 BELLROSE NW
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EUGENE B. PLUNKETT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 614 BELLROSE, NW
Operator City ALBUQUERQUE
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 87107
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 Q37
Departure City CARRIZOZO
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1535
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ABQ
Destination City ALBUQUERQUE
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --