# NTSB DEN79FA054: Piper PA-18, N83286, Artesia, NM, August 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1979
- Place: Artesia, NM · ARTESIA, NM
- Location: 32.8517° N, 104.4237° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Artesia, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8517&lon=-104.4237&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA054
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA054

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2612  79/8/15  NR.ARTESIA,NM         PIPER PA-18         CR-  2  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0720                    N83286              PX-  0  0  0  OTHER PUBLIC              AGE 35, 1762 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            281 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROSEWELL,NM                ARTESIA,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - VORTEX TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        REMARKS- US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE.PREDATOR CONTROL MISSION.360DEG TURNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83286](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83286-1983-06-08), registration cancelled 1983-06-08, S/N 18-7709048 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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