CESSNA 172F
Routt County, CO — January 25, 2015
Event Information
| Date | January 25, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN15LA122 |
| Event ID | 20150126X54025 |
| Location | Routt County, CO |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.29917, -106.67139 |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 172F |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain.
Full Narrative
On January 25, 2015, about 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172F airplane, N8368U, impacted terrain in the Routt National Forest, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross country flight. The airplane impacted sparely wooded, mountainous terrain at an approximate elevation of 10,000 feet. Both wings were crushed and impact damaged. The fuselage was crushed and distorted. The empennage separated from the aft cabin but remain attached to the airplane via control cables. The right elevator was crushed.
A review of Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the pilot's private pilot certificate had been revoked several years earlier.
In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that he became emotional over previous life events. The pilot then decided to attempt suicide by flying the airplane into the side of a mountain. He reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.