Cessna 172 N2723U
30 May 2010 · Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 30 May 2010 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N2723U, operated by Adventure Leasing, was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
- Nearest airport
- Las Cruces International (LRU)
- Coordinates
- 32.2869, -106.9197
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172
- Registration
- N2723U
- Category
- Airplane
- Operator
- Adventure Leasing
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Las Cruces → Las Cruces
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN10LA282
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of water contamination in the fuel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing the accident was an inoperative number 5 cylinder exhaust valve.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The engine lost partial power shortly after takeoff. During the forced landing, the airplane went through a chain link fence before coming to rest against a sand berm and mesquite tree. There were other documented reports of partial power failures involving this airplane. The engine was partially disassembled and examined. The number 5 cylinder exhaust valve was found to be stuck open. A clear, unidentified liquid was found in the fuel line. A significant amount of water was drained from the fuel system, mostly from the left tank. It was reported that the airplane had sat outside during the winter in several rain storms. Maintenance personnel reported a considerable amount of water was drained from the right fuel tank during the most recent annual inspection.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 172 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 2010 | Cessna 172N | Poughkeepsie, New York, United States | Cohen Bruce M | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 2010 | Cessna 172N | Salem, Oregon, United States | Graham Aviation Services | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2010 | Cessna 172P | Camarillo Airport, California, United States | Channel Islands Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 2010 | Cessna 172 | Portland, Oregon, United States | Snohomish Flying Services | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 2010 | Cessna 172 | Poughkeepsie, New York, United States | MacArthur Air Incorporated | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 2010 | Cessna 172 | North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Douglas Hool | No injuries | - |
All 12,209 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 2010 | Piper PA-28-140 | Glenwood, New Mexico, United States | Adam N. Rosenberg | No injuries | - |
| 28 Aug 2010 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Socorro, New Mexico, United States | Civil Air Patrol Inc | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Cessna T310R | Ruidoso, New Mexico, United States | Rod Aviation LLC | Fatal | 5 |
| 10 Oct 2010 | Cessna 180 | Farmington, New Mexico, United States | Evans Craig M | No injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 2010 | Cessna 421B | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | Earls Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 2010 | Cessna 172P | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |