- Date
- April 5, 2003, 15:38 local (22:38 UTC)
- Place
- Truth or Conseq, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3749UCessna 182G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030405004789A
- Case key
- 56773
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing factors include, the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision making, the crosswind and gusty wind conditions, the ditch, and the berm.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that when landing on runway 31, he encountered a "strong" gust of wind. He attempted to regain control, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway, went across a ditch, and struck a berm. The impact with the berm collapsed the nose landing gear, buckled the firewall, and displaced the right main landing gear. The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the wind was 220 degrees at 31 knots gusting to 45 knots.
Factual narrative
On April 5, 2003, at 1538 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182G, N3749U, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing roll at Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (TCS), Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Belen, New Mexico, at approximately 1430.
The pilot stated that while landing on runway 31, he encountered a "strong" gust of wind. He attempted to regain control, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway, across a ditch, and struck a berm approximately 70 feet prior to the intersection of runway 01-19. The impact with the berm collapsed the nose landing gear, buckled the firewall, and displaced the right main landing gear.
The pilot stated that at the time of the accident the wind was 220 degrees at 31 knots gusting to 45 knots. At 1553, the reported weather at TCS was wind, 220 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 27 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 21 degrees C.; dew point, minus 18 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 29.72. The calculated density altitude was 6,891 feet msl.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3749U
- Reported as
- Cessna 182G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18255149
- Airframe hours
- 4,034.2
- Engine
- Continental 0470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Paul Dilger
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 6, 2002 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- E80 · Belen, NM
- Destination
- TCS · Truth or Conseq, NM
- Airport
- TCS · Truth or Consequences, runway 31, 5,599 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 9, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,028 total · 275 in this make and model · 1,028 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.71 inHg
- Observed at
- TCS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.