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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 23, 1986 · Cessna 172N · CGYDG

Nathrop, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 23, 1986
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Nathrop, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
CGYDG
Operator
Lachute Air Service
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN87LA033

THE CANADIAN REGISTERED ACFT, WITH A PVT PLT AND INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX AND TWO PAXS ABOARD, TOOK OFF FROM CANON CITY, CO, ENROUTE TO GUNNISON, CO, TO REFUEL. THIS WAS A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT TO ALLOW THE PLT TO BUILD NECESSARY FLT TIME TOWARDS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE. THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN IN FORMATION WITH ANOTHER CANADIAN ACFT. THE PLT WAS NAVIGATING VIA PILOTAGE AND NOTICED HE WAS FLYING NORTH INSTEAD OF WEST. THE INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX ABOARD THE OTHER ACFT ADVISED THE PLT TO FLY A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 240 DEGS. THE PLT LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE OTHER ACFT AND A TURN WAS MADE OVER THE WRONG CHECKPOINT. THE ACFT WAS AT 10,800 FT MSL AND CLIMBING SLOWLY WHEN THE PLT SAW HIGHER TERRAIN AHEAD. THE ACFT WAS IN A BLIND CANYON AND THE PLT COULD NOT REVERSE COURSE. THE INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND PURPOSELY STALLED INTO A SNOW COVERED 12,000 FT MOUNTAIN. THE OTHER ACFT LANDED SAFELY AT GUNNISON.

Full Narrative

THE CANADIAN REGISTERED ACFT, WITH A PVT PLT AND INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX AND TWO PAXS ABOARD, TOOK OFF FROM CANON CITY, CO, ENROUTE TO GUNNISON, CO, TO REFUEL. THIS WAS A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT TO ALLOW THE PLT TO BUILD NECESSARY FLT TIME TOWARDS A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE. THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN IN FORMATION WITH ANOTHER CANADIAN ACFT. THE PLT WAS NAVIGATING VIA PILOTAGE AND NOTICED HE WAS FLYING NORTH INSTEAD OF WEST. THE INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX ABOARD THE OTHER ACFT ADVISED THE PLT TO FLY A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 240 DEGS. THE PLT LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE OTHER ACFT AND A TURN WAS MADE OVER THE WRONG CHECKPOINT. THE ACFT WAS AT 10,800 FT MSL AND CLIMBING SLOWLY WHEN THE PLT SAW HIGHER TERRAIN AHEAD. THE ACFT WAS IN A BLIND CANYON AND THE PLT COULD NOT REVERSE COURSE. THE INSTRUCTOR RATED PAX TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND PURPOSELY STALLED INTO A SNOW COVERED 12,000 FT MOUNTAIN. THE OTHER ACFT LANDED SAFELY AT GUNNISON.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberCGYDG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLachute Air Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (1 serious injury, 2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor2
Uninjured1
Total4
Crew 1Age 23 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data