Cessna 172RG N4963R

Summary

On 24 July 1992 at about 13:23 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N4963R, operated by Emery Aviation College, was involved in an accident near Fairplay, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 1992 at 13:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairplay, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.2197, -105.8006

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N4963R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Emery Aviation College

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Spring → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN92FA077

1 person died.

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S OPERATION AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR OBSTACLES IN RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, DIVERSION OF THE INSTRUCTOR'S ATTENTION, AND THE RISING TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO GIVE THE PILOT A MOUNTAIN FLYING CHECKOUT. A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OBSERVING. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND INDICATED HE WANTED TO SHOW BOTH PILOTS A CAMP SITE WHERE HE HAD CAMPED SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE. THE INSTRUCTOR FLEW UP A MOUNTAINOUS VALLEY WHILE THE PILOT OPERATED A VIDEO CAMERA. THE PASSENGER SAID THEY WERE FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE AND BELOW RIDGES RISING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE VIDEO TAPE CORROBORATED STATEMENTS MADE BY THE PILOT AND PASSENGER, AND DEPICTED THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO AND INCLUDING THE IMPACT. COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,245 FEET MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.