- Date
- April 15, 1982, 17:40 local (Apr 16, 1982, 00:40 UTC)
- Place
- Ruidoso Muni, NM
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4026QPiper PA-32R-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 15, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820415009509A
- Case key
- 72434
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 aircraft took off from runway 18 with 4 occupants and about 98 gal of fuel on board. The wind was from 210 deg at 8, gusting 20 KTS, the pressure altitude was about 8900 ft and moderate turbulence was reported. According to witnesses, the aircraft made a longer than normal takeoff roll and never gained much altitude. A left turn was made just south of the runway while still at a very low altitude and the aircraft was unable to clear the trees in a wooded area. About 365 ft past the first contact with the trees, the plane impacted the ground. An investigation revealed no preimpact malfunction or failure. A visual obsevation of the spark plugs revealed indications of a rich mixture and the mixture control was found in the full rich position. The airport elevation was 6911 ft, the elevation of the crash site was reported to be 7133 ft in the vicinity of hilly/mountainous terrain. The configuration of the gear and flaps after lift-off was not verified.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4026Q
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-7780324
- Airframe hours
- 943
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Curtis Lewis
- Registered owner
- Curtis Lewis
- Departed
- Ruidoso Muni, NM
- Destination
- Amarillo, TX
- Airport
- Ruidoso Municipal, runway 18, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 18
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 260 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 145 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.