Cessna 172R N9864F

Summary

On 1 November 2003 at about 18:57 local time, a Cessna 172R registered N9864F was involved in an accident near Cloudcroft, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were 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

1 November 2003 at 18:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Cloudcroft, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.9761, -105.7386

Aircraft

Cessna 172R

Registration

N9864F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Cruces → Roswell

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04LA017

2 people were seriously injured.

the dual student's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision. Low altitude flight and rising terrain are contributing factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was flying through a valley when the pilot unexpectedly encountered rapidly rising terrain. The valley that the accident airplane went through, gains approximately 3,000 feet over 5 statute miles. The pilot was forced to turn sharp to the right and could not maintain altitude. The airplane impacted into a heavily forested area, destroying the airplane and causing serious injury to the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor on board.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.