Cessna 172N accident near Durango, Colorado, August 16, 1982
On August 16, 1982 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4642J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (Animas Airpark airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1982 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Animas Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4642J · no longer on the register · serial 17273658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS STARTING HIS FLARE TO LAND WHEN A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND GOT OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT RUDDER WAS APPLIED, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE RUNWAY, CROSSED A DITCH, AND WENT INTO SAGEBRUSH. THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT WING TIP WAS DAMAGED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,058 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 11:45 am
- Destination: BDR Bridgeport CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 187°F (86°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4642J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.