Cessna 172P accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, June 15, 1986
On June 15, 1986 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52985, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- June 15, 1986 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52985 · no longer on the register · serial 17274652
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND SHE WAS CLEARED BY THE TOWER TO LAND ON ANY RWY. THE PLT CHOSE RWY 10. SHE ADDED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS OVER THE RWY THRESHOLD AND THE ACFT CONTINUED TO FLOAT, TOUCHING DOWN WITH 1/3 OF THE RWY REMAINING. BRAKES WERE APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE RWY WHERE IT CONTACTED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED THE #4 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE WAS STUCK.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 321 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,958 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 29, 1986; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Deer Valley Aviation
The flight
- Destination: SDL Scottsville AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 6,291 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from SAF
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.