Cessna 172P accident near Deming, New Mexico, November 18, 1994
On November 18, 1994 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N54378, was destroyed in an accident near Deming, New Mexico. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE IN MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE RISING TERRAIN AND GUSTY, HIGH WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1994 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Deming, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N54378 · no longer on the register · serial 17274967
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT TO SURVEY HUNTING AREAS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AFTER A SEARCH FOR THE OVERDUE THE AIRCRAFT, THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN STEEPLY RISING, RUGGED TERRAIN. THE REPORTED WINDS AT THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT; HOWEVER, WIND CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAIN AREA WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING WERE OBSERVED BY A BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) RANGER TO BE 'GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 35 KNOTS.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN (20 DEGREE SLOPE) ON A MEASURED HEADING OF 350 DEGREES MAGNECTIC, AND 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN RELATIVE TO THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY STRUCTURAL FAILURES OR MECHANICAL DEFECTS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,813 hours in all; 22 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,537 as pilot in command; 585 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,591 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1994; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from DMN, 11 miles away
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.