# NTSB DEN03LA064: Cessna 182G, N3749U, Truth or Conseq, NM, April 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2003, 15:38 local (22:38 UTC) - Place: Truth or Conseq, NM - Coordinates: 33.130599, -107.239364 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1306&lon=-107.2394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56773/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA064 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182G - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255149 - Airframe hours: 4034.2 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030405004789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030405004789A), Apr 5, 2003: Cessna 182G, Truth Or Conseq, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 5, 2003 at 1530 MST, a Cessna 182, N3749U, registered to paul r. dilger, veered off the left side of the runway, while attempting to land on… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.