Cessna 172K accident near Tierra Amrilla, New Mexico, July 13, 1987
On July 13, 1987 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N84704, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tierra Amrilla, New Mexico (El Vado State Park airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were 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
- July 13, 1987 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tierra Amrilla, New Mexico · El Vado State Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84704 · no longer on the register · serial 17258586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
NO WITNESSES WERE FOUND WHO HAD SEEN THE ACCIDENT. THE MAN BELIEVED TO BE THE PLT GAVE THE INVESTIGATING POLICE OFFICER AN ASSUMED NAME. THE WRECKAGE DISSAPPEARED SOON AFTER THE CRASH AND HAS NOT BEEN FOUND TO DATE. THE ACFT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH FOUR ADULTS AND CONSIDERABLE BAGGAGE ABOARD. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROX 9500 FEET. THE ACFT CAME TO REST NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 9, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.