Cessna 172 accident near Questa, New Mexico, September 29, 1988
On September 29, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8517B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Questa, New Mexico (Questa 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
- September 29, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Questa, New Mexico · Questa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8517B · no longer on the register · serial 36217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT AND 1 PAX WERE TAKING OFF USING 2,500 FT OF A 4,000 X 50 FT DIRT STRIP WITH A D/A OF 9,200 FT. DURING INTIAL CLIMB THE PLT NOTICED A SINK RATE. THE PLT SAID HE VARIED THE ANGLE OF FLAPS FROM 5 TO 25 DEG 'IN SEARCH OF LIFT.' THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A RIDGE 350 FT FROM THE POINT OF LIFTOFF. THE ACFT PIVOTED RIGHT AND CAME TO REST 35 FT FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT. THE FUSELAGE WAS BENT AND BOTH WINGS WERE FLEXED UPWARD. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE FOUND A QUANTITY (LESS THAN AN OUNCE) OF MARIJUANA IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REFUSED TO SUBMIT TO A DRUG TEST.
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: 191 hours in all; 191 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1989; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKI Taos NM at 6:30 pm
- Destination: E91 Eagle Nest NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- 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.