Cessna 172Q accident near Kayenta, Arizona, August 14, 1996
On August 14, 1996 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172Q, registered N65963, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kayenta, Arizona (Kayenta airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to adhere to the manufacturer's performance data by not maintaining the recommended best rate of climb speed, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush event. The high density altitude was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1996 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kayenta, Arizona · Kayenta · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172Q · all 172Qs on the register
- Registration
- N65963 · no longer on the register · serial 17275934
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had refueled the aircraft at Grand Canyon airport, and then flew to Kayenta. He said that during the takeoff initial climb from Kayenta, he was maintaining between 40 and 45 knots indicated airspeed, but the aircraft would not climb. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but had to maneuver around a power plant, and then the aircraft struck the ground. Available data showed that at the airplane's estimated takeoff gross weight, the stall speed would be about 43 knots indicated airspeed (about 57 knots calibrated airspeed). The density altitude was about 9,000 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 161 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 72 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,966 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 26, 1996; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cothron Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 0V7 at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,100 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from GUP, 116 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.