Cessna 172 accident near Aztec, New Mexico, September 1, 1986
On September 1, 1986 at about 2:10 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N63302, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aztec, New Mexico (Aztec Municipal 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
- September 1, 1986 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Aztec, New Mexico · Aztec Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N63302 · no longer on the register · serial 17275416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT AFTER A LOCAL FLT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PLT ABORTED THE FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT ON RWY 04. DURING THE SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, THE ACFT RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY, STRUCK A DIRT BANK AND NOSED OVER. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE WEST AT 20 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS. THE WIND SOCK AT THE AZTEC ARPT WAS TORN AND THE RWY LIGHTS WERE BELOW STANDARD.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1986; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
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.