Cessna 172P N54378

Summary

On 18 November 1994 at about 18:10 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N54378 was involved in an accident near Deming, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 November 1994 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Deming, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.2595, -107.7494

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N54378

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95FA050

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE IN MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE RISING TERRAIN AND GUSTY, HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT TO SURVEY HUNTING AREAS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AFTER A SEARCH FOR THE OVERDUE THE AIRCRAFT, THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN STEEPLY RISING, RUGGED TERRAIN. THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT; HOWEVER, WIND CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAIN AREA WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING WERE OBSERVED BY A BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) RANGER TO BE 'GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 35 KNOTS.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN (20 DEGREE SLOPE) ON A MEASURED HEADING OF 350 DEGREES MAGNECTIC, AND 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN RELATIVE TO THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY STRUCTURAL FAILURES OR MECHANICAL DEFECTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.