Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172M N61539

2 November 1991 · Springer, New Mexico, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 2 November 1991 at about 23:10 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N61539, operated by ROY E. Roadifer, was involved in an accident near Springer, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:10
Classification
Accident
Location
Springer, New Mexico, United States
Nearest airport
Springer (Q42)
Coordinates
36.3597, -104.5907
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Registration
N61539
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
ROY E. Roadifer
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Colorado Spring → Socorro
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW92LA017

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO FORCASTED ADVERSE WEATHER, HIS DISREGARD FOR THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORY RECEIVED WHICH RESULTED IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF A BLOCKED INDUCTION SYSTEM DUE TO ICE AND SNOW, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PRIVATE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY THE WEATHER BRIEFER THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITIES AND SNOW SHOWERS. THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART ON HIS CROSS COUNTRY FIGHT AND ENCOUNTERED THE PREVIOUSLY FORECASTED WEATHER ENROUTE. THE HEAVY SHOW SHOWERS CAUSED A BLOCKAGE OF THE AIR INDUCTION FILTER SCREEN. THE PILOT MANAGED TO FOLLOW AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT LOW ALTITUDE UNTIL AN AIRPORT WAS FOUND. WHILE LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR IMPACTED A LARGE SNOW DRIFT, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO DRIFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND FLIP OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO HIS LOW ALTITUDE AND DIMINISHING POWER, HE WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY BEFORE LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
7 Apr 1991 Cessna 172P
N9671A
College Park, Maryland, United States Civil Air Patrol, Inc. No injuries -
25 Apr 1991 Cessna 172
N66717
Detroit, Michigan, United States
no coordinates
Eximous Flying Club, Inc. No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Cessna 172N
N5352D
Napa, California, United States Bridgeford Flying SVC. No injuries -
9 Apr 1991 Cessna 172H
N3781F
Morehead, Kentucky, United States Roger Wend Minor injuries -
5 Apr 1991 Cessna 172A
N9852T
Hood River, Oregon, United States Paul J. Welp No injuries -
31 Mar 1991 Cessna 172M
N6852H
Ogden, Utah, United States Alta Aircraft No injuries -

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
29 Dec 1991 Cessna 150E
N306BJ
Glenwood, New Mexico, United States Fred & Beverly Chappell Minor injuries -
2 Mar 1991 Cessna T210M
N761MU
Taos, New Mexico, United States New Mexico Flying Service Fatal 1
5 Mar 1991 Beechcraft 58
N2019V
Whites City, New Mexico, United States Stipp, Robert J. Fatal 2
11 Sep 1991 Butler AEROSTAR 600
N4VH
Ruidoso, New Mexico, United States Franklin, Jimmy M. Fatal 2
16 Sep 1991 Cessna 182G
N3223S
Elida, New Mexico, United States Claude B. McAfee Fatal 3
15 Sep 1991 Cessna 172N
N4868F
Tererro, New Mexico, United States Pegasus Flight Center Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States