Cessna 172R accident near Denton, TX

On December 20, 2011, a Cessna 172R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Denton, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

December 20, 2011

Place

Denton, TX

Aircraft

Cessna 172R · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

33.215°N, 97.204°W

NTSB ID

20111220X03105

Official records · CEN12LA109

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - DFW TRACON ATC Accident Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Denton Police Department Operations Log: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - FAA Order 7110.65 Emergency Handling Sections: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 20, 2011, about 0145 central standard time, a Cessna 172R airplane, N987BT, impacted terrain while flying the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to runway 18 at the Denton Municipal Airport (KDTO), Denton, Texas. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot-rated observer/passenger were both seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by US Aviation Group, LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was being operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), San Antonio, Texas, at 2323, and was destined to KDTO. A review of a transcript of the pilots' transmissions with air traffic control (ATC) revealed that at 0057, the pilots were informed by ATC that the weather at KDTO reported 1/2 mile visibility and an indefinite ceiling at 100 feet. The pilots then requested an approach into the Fort Worth Alliance airport (KAFW) where weather was reported to be 3 miles visibility with few clouds at 100 feet. At 0128 the pilots reported to have obtained current weather at KDTO and requested the ILS at KDTO since the weather was being reported at 1/2 mile visbility and two hundred feet. According to the observer, the flight was uneventful until the airplane started the ILS to runway 18 at KDTO. The observer reported that the airplane then entered a fog bank, while on the approach. The observer adde

Probable cause

The pilot's controlled flight into terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform a circling maneuver in weather below circling minimums instead of flying the missed approach instructions.

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Browse: Texas · Cessna aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.