Cessna 172RG accident near Dulce, New Mexico, March 16, 1994
On March 16, 1994 at about 9:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N4663V, was destroyed in an accident near Dulce, New Mexico (Dulce airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PROPERLY PLAN THE FLIGHT AND CALCULATE PERFORMANCE DATA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1994 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Dulce, New Mexico · Dulce · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4663V · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0354
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING AN EN ROUTE STOP WHERE THE FOUR OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRCRAFT CONDUCTED SOME BUSINESS, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TO THE SOUTHEAST INTO A CLIMBING TERRAIN ENVIRONMENT. APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED INTO THE CLIMBING TERRAIN AND BURNED. TWO OF THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT AND WALKED BACK TOWARDS THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHERE THEY WERE PICKED UP BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND TRANSPORTED TO MEDICAL FACILITIES. BOTH OF THESE PERSONS EXPIRED AND THE OTHER TWO OCCUPANTS DIED IN THE ACCIDENT. ALL DEATHS WERE ATTRIBUTED TO THERMAL INJURIES. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF AIRCRAFT OR SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE LIMITS PREVENTED THE AIRCRAFT FROM OUTCLIMBING THE TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 225 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,001 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,658 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: AXX Angel Fire NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,800 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from FMN, 60 miles away
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.
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.