Cessna 172M accident near Quemado, New Mexico, February 26, 1986
On February 26, 1986 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N8935V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quemado, New Mexico (Quemado airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- February 26, 1986 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Quemado, New Mexico · Quemado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8935V · no longer on the register · serial 17264292
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THE WIND WAS VARIABLE AND GUSTY. WHEN THE TAKEOFF WAS STARTED THERE WAS A QUARTERING HEADWIND BUT AS TAKEOFF SPEED WAS REACHED THE WIND SWITCHED TO A TAILWIND. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF BUT IMMEDIATELY SETTLED BACK TO THE RWY. THE PLT THEN ADDED FLAPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO BECOME AIRBORNE AND TO AVOID A HOLE NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. A GUST OF WIND THEN CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO LIFT UP AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A FENCE POST. THE ACFT THEN CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,513 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 1,319 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,881 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 12, 1986; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Q35 Springerville AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,400 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.