Cessna 172K accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, September 7, 1986
On September 7, 1986 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79910, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monte Vista, Colorado (San Luis Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 7, 1986 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado · San Luis Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79910 · no longer on the register · serial 17258243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT DEPARTED WINSLOW, AZ, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO ERIE, CO, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PLT SAID HE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO MONTE VISTA TO 'TAKE A BREAK' AND VISIT WITH HIS PARENTS WHO LIVED NEARBY. THE PLT SAID THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE WITH SOME LIGHT TURBULENCE. THE PLT SAID THAT AS HE APPROACHED RWY 34 (2100 FT X 50 FT, DIRT), HE ENCOUNTERED A HIGH SINK RATE AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY EDGE. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE RWY LIP, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR BULKHEAD AND FUSELAGE SKIN. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO TAXI THE ACFT TO THE RAMP. ANOTHER RWY (O1-19/6000 FT X 50 FT, ASPHALT) WAS AVAILABLE FOR LANDINGS. THE PLT'S LAST BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN AUGUST, 1984.
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: 124 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1986; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Custom Design Homes, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: INW Winslow AZ at 2:40 pm
- Destination: 48V Erie CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N79910 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.