Cessna 172F accident near Folsom, New Mexico, August 25, 1992
On August 25, 1992 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N5101F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Folsom, New Mexico. 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
CARBURETOR HEAT NOT USED AND IMPROPER USE OF THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1992 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Folsom, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5101F · no longer on the register · serial 17252508
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DESCENDED FROM 1500 FEET TO 500 FEET AGL TO MAKE A LOW PASS OVER HIS PARENTS' RANCH. HE DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT PRIOR TO THE POWER REDUCTION. AS HE LEVELLED OFF, HE ADVANCED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO FULL RICH AND ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. NO ENGINE RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED DUE TO TERRAIN PROXIMITY AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING ROLL OUT, THE NOSE WHEEL STRUCK A BOULDER AND WAS SHEARED OFF, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION AND TESTS DISCLOSED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE CARBURETOR, OIL SCREEN, SPARK PLUGS, FUEL AND OIL. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND OPERATED SATISFACTORILY.
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: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1992; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sheppard Afb Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: DHT Dalhart TX at 3:30 pm
- Destination: RTN Raton NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.