SAN IGNACIO, NM, USA
N2840L
CESSNA 172H
WHILE ON A LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT UP A CANYON AND COULD NOT OUT-CLIMB RISING TERRAIN OR REVERSE COURSE. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED TREES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 8,500 FEET MSL AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS 11,500 FEET MSL.
On May 22, 1995, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N2840L, impacted mountainous terrain near San Ignacio, New Mexico. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this local area personal flight which departed Las Vegas, New Mexico, at 0745. According to the FAA inspector who conducted the on scene portion of the investigation, the flight was proceeding up a canyon with the occupants looking at real estate. The FAA inspector said that the pilot reported that the aircraft could not out-climb the terrain or reverse course. The pilot said the aircraft entered trees while attempting to turn and climb. The accident site elevation was 8,500 feet above mean sea level (msl) and the density altitude at the time was 11,500 feet msl.
THE PILOT FLYING AT AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR SURROUNDING TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE: HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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