# NTSB FTW83FA175: Cessna 500, N700CW, Eagle Pass, TX, April 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1983, 20:00 local (Apr 2, 1983, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Eagle Pass, TX
- Coordinates: 28.700693, -100.490798 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7007&lon=-100.4908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20716
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20716/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA175

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, other
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A FLT TO A PRIVATE RANCH LANDING STRIP AT NIGHT. THE STRIP HAD AN UNLIGHTED WINDSOCK AT MIDFIELD & PORTABLE RWY EDGE LIGHTS WERE IN USE. DURING ARRIVAL, THE AIRCREW ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY WAS 3 TO 4 MI & REPORTED THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LAND. PERSONNEL AT THE RANCH HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER. ONE OF THEM REPORTED THAT EARLIER, THE WIND HAD BEEN BLOWING HARD & THE AIR WAS FULL OF DUST, BUT AT THE TIME THE ACFT ARRIVED, DUST HAD SETTLED. A DEPUTY SHERIFF NOTED THAT AT TIMES, THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD, BUT AT OTHER TIMES, IT WAS POOR. THE ACFT OWNER, WHO WAS AT THE RANCH, SAID HE COULD SEE THE ACFT LIGHTS AT TIMES (IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN), BUT AT TIMES, HE COULD NOT SEE THEM. AFTER MAKING 2 PASSES, THE ACFT CRASHED IN THE AREA WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON A BASE LEG. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED IT WAS IN A LEFT TURN DURING IMPACT. AFTER INITIAL IMPACT, IT BOUNCED/SLID 663 FT, THEN HIT A TREE COVERED CANAL LEVEE & BURNED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N700CW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 500
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 500-0205
- Airframe hours: 3440
- Engines: P&W JT15D-1 2090 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Winn Exploration Co., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 1, 1983, 2 hours before
- Departed: CRP, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 6TA4, Winn, runway 32, 6,300 × 64 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 12 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Observed at: DLF, 60 nm away

## 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 19830401012539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830401012539A), Apr 1, 1983: Cessna 500CESSNA, Eagle Pass, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft flew into ground on night VFR approach to unlighted airport. Visibility was restricted by dust.

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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