Cessna 172P accident near Monument Valley, Utah, May 17, 1998
On May 17, 1998 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N65759, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monument Valley, Utah (Monument Valley Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing. Factors were gusty, crosswind conditions, the pilot's lack of experience in type of operation and geographic area, mountainous terrain, and high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1998 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Monument Valley, Utah · Monument Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N65759 · no longer on the register · serial 17275863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing a sightseeing flight and was second in a group of three to land. At 200 feet agl, a 'severe gust' turned the aircraft 30 to 40 degrees to the right and at a 40 degree bank. The pilot added power to go-around, and the aircraft began a slight climb. Due to approaching mountainous terrain, the pilot initiated an early turn to crosswind; however, the aircraft only reached an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 agl while in the traffic pattern. While on final approach for his second attempt to land, the aircraft impacted the ground 150 feet to left of the runway at a heading of approximately 195 degrees with full power and in a nose high attitude. The nose and right main gear were separated from the aircraft, and the airplane came to rest on its nose. Approximately one hour after the accident, the wind blew the aircraft onto its back. According to a representative of Scenic Airlines, Inc., the pilot's date of hire was April 24, 1998, and he was employed with the company for less than a month prior to the accident. In addition, the pilot was from California and was new to the geographic area. Density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 7,854 feet.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,617 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,468 as pilot in command; 981 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,804 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 24, 1998; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 71V
- Runway 16, 4,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from 4BL, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.