Cessna 172M accident near Monticello, Utah, December 24, 1997
On December 24, 1997 at about 2:16 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N1596V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance from obstacles. Also causal was the pilot becoming lost and disoriented. Contributing factors were his lack of familiarity with the geographical area, lack of experience, night conditions, and power lines
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 1997 · about 2:16 am local time
- Place
- Monticello, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1596V · no longer on the register · serial 17263688
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a cross-country flight, the newly certificated private pilot became lost and disoriented and failed to follow instructions for assistance by air traffic control. During maneuvering flight in the vicinity of a city, he flew the aircraft in close proximity to the ground and struck power lines. Light condition was night, and visibility was 7 miles. Approximately 200 pounds of marijuana was found in the rear seat of the aircraft by sheriff's deputies. Investigation revealed the pilot had 63 hours total flight time 3.2 hours of which were at night. His private pilot certificate was issued less than 2 weeks before the accident, and he had no previous flight experience in the area where the accident occurred.
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: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,019 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 5, 1997; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vista Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CEZ Cortez CO
- Destination: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
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.