Cessna 152 accident near Raton, New Mexico, July 29, 1995
On July 29, 1995 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49209, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raton, New Mexico (Raton Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE FLAPS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1995 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Raton, New Mexico · Raton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49209 · no longer on the register · serial 15281194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RWY 20 TWICE, BUT EXPERIENCED A TAILWIND ON FINAL. SHE THEN SET UP TO LAND ON RWY 25, BUT INITIATED ANOTHER GO-AROUND DUE TO THE WIND. AFTER ADDING FULL POWER FOR THE GO-AROUND, 'TURBULENCE CAUSED MY HAND TO SLIP DOWN ON THE FLAP LEVER GIVING THE AIRCRAFT FULL FLAPS (30 DEGREES).' THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED DOWN THE RUNWAY AND LANDED 'VERY HARD' ON THE GEAR. THE PILOT THEN RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A FULL STOP. AFTER EXITING THE AIRCRAFT THE PILOT NOTICED A FIRE UNDER THE ENGINE COWLING.
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: 162 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,600 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 9, 1995; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 2:15 am
- Destination: RTN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°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.
Other NTSB records under N49209 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.