CESSNA 172A near Clarendon, TX — 2011-01-17

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to correctly set the altimeter, which resulted in his erroneous perception that the airplane was at a safe altitude.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, it was dark when he arrived at his destination. He saw the airport's rotating beacon but was unable to remotely activate the runway lights. He maneuvered the airplane onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, extended the flaps and reduced engine power. He thought the airplane was 900 feet above the ground when the airplane impacted terrain approximately 2-1/2 miles east of the airport. At the accident site, the altimeter read 7,500 feet. The terrain was approximately 2,800 feet. There were no mechanical anomalies found with the airplane.

NTSB coding

• Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) · Approach-VFR pattern downwind

Evidence available

• Photos
• 5 docket documents

Docket documents5

• FAA Memorandumother
• Map of Crash Siteother
• Satellite Photo of Crash Sitephotos
• Factual Modificationsreport
• Weather Reports and Recordsreport

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