The student pilot and his instructor were returning to their home airport after night cross-country instructional fight. As they descended toward the airport, the airplanes wheels contacted terrain on a ridge about nine miles from the planned destination, and about 1650 feet higher than the airport elevation. Although the airplane initially rolled across the terrain at a high rate of speed, it soon contacted a road, resulting in loss of control and further contact with the terrain. There was substantial damage to the airplanes fuselage. Although the sky was clear with no restrictions to visibility, it was a dark night with no moonlight, and neither pilot saw the terrain prior to the accident. Injuries were unknown.
July 15, 2009, Thermopolis, Wyo., Cessna 172M
The student pilot and his instructor were returning to their home airport after night cross-country instructional fight. As they descended toward the airport, the airplanes wheels contacted terrain on a ridge about nine miles from the planned destination, and about 1650 feet higher than the airport elevation. Although the airplane initially rolled across the terrain at a high rate of speed, it soon contacted a road, resulting in loss of control and further contact with the terrain.
Key Takeaways:
- A student pilot and instructor crashed their airplane into a ridge nine miles from their destination during a night cross-country instructional flight.
- The accident, which occurred about 1650 feet above the destination airport's elevation, was due to neither pilot seeing the terrain in the dark, moonless night conditions.
- The airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage after initial impact and subsequent loss of control upon contacting a road.
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