# NTSB DEN76AD046: Cessna 340, N4098L, Ruidoso, NM, March 29, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 29, 1976
- Place: Ruidoso, NM · RUIDOSO, NM
- Location: 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruidoso, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3495&lon=-105.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153651
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76AD046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1882  76/3/29    RUIDOSO,NM          CESSNA 340          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 1056
        TIME - 1650                    N4098L              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 336 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RUIDOSO MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          RUIDOSO,NM                  ALBUQVERQUE,NM              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 3/30/76.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4098L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4098L-1976-09-15), registration cancelled 1976-09-15, S/N 340-0084 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ruidoso Muni

## 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 19760329022579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760329022579A), Mar 29, 1976: Cessna 340A, Ruidoso, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Recovery date 3/30/76.

## Other investigations on N4098L (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN73FQA40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FQA40), May 18, 1973: Cessna 340 (N4098L), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage

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.

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