Cessna 172 accident near Safford, Arizona, November 6, 1989
On November 6, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5624A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Safford, Arizona. It was a personal 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 FAILED TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT'S STALL SPEED AS HE TURNED AWAY FROM ASCENDING TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT'S INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE RESULTING FROM IMPROPER GRADE OF FUEL AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN HIGH ALTITUDE OPERATIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Safford, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5624A · no longer on the register · serial 28224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL SEARCH FOR DEER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN PRIOR TO BEGINNING A HUNT. THE PILOT DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. HE TOOK OFF FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS NOT HEARD FROM AGAIN. THE PILOT'S FAMILY REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT OVERDUE AND A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE AIRCRAFT'S EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER WAS RECEIVED BY SEARCH AIRCRAFT AND THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 9,000 FEET. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE AT THE POINT OF INITIAL GROUND IMPACT.
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: 235 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 196 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.