Cessna 172 accident near Grants, New Mexico, July 16, 1990
On July 16, 1990 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N46593, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants, New Mexico (Grants-Milan airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1990 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Grants, New Mexico · Grants-Milan · 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
- N46593 · registry record · serial 172-57372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GO AROUND. THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, ENTERED LOOSE SAND AND NOSED OVER. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT WAS UNDERGOING RECURRENT PRIVATE PILOT TRAINING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. BOTH WINGS AND THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED IN THE ACCIDENT, DAMAGING THE FIREWALL.
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: 209 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 209 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kirtland Afb Aero Club (Usaf)
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 4:31 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 5,320 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.