| Crash location | 35.356389°N, 103.437500°W |
| Nearest city | Logan, NM
35.365329°N, 103.410791°W 1.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N64312 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 28 Jan 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 172M |
| Additional details: | None |
On January 28, 2003, at approximately 1800 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N64312, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and a light pole during a go around from a visual approach to the Ute Dam Airport (E97), Logan, New Mexico. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a visual flight rules flight plan from Clovis, New Mexico, to Logan, New Mexico, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and 3 passengers on board sustained minor injuries. The cross-country flight originated at 1740.
In his written statement, the pilot said that he flew low level over Ute Lake from the west and then turned left to line up on the field. The pilot said at the last minute he realized he was lined up on a dirt road. He applied full power. The pilot said he was "too low and too slow, and [the] terrain was rising." He said he was also coming up on stall speed. The pilot said he flew under a first set of power lines, banked left to avoid a second set of power lines, and then struck a tree.
In his statement to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot said that when he initiated his go-around, he neglected to push in the carburetor heat or retract the flaps.
The airplane was found resting upright on top of a downed cottonwood tree near a camping area. Several trees and a light pole preceding the accident site showed damage. An examination of the airplane showed the left and right wings crushed aft. The left wing tip was bent upward. The right wing tip was broken aft longitudinally and bent downward. The airplane's flaps were fully extended. The windscreen was broken out. Tree branches were embedded in the cabin interior ceiling. The right side of the forward fuselage, cowling, and firewall were crushed inward. The engine was bent downward and left. The nose gear was bent to the right. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the cockpit showed the carburetor heat knob pulled on. No other anomalies were found.
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, his failure to accomplish appropriate checklist items during the go-around, and his failure to maintain clearance from the trees and the lamp post. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, low airspeed, the trees, and the lamp pole.