- Date
- December 19, 1982, 20:30 local (Dec 20, 1982, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Near Mcallen, TX
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N42717Cessna 182L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19821219066889A
- Case key
- 71894
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 departed Mcallen, TX at 1903 CST to an unknown destination. During departure, it was observed heading northwest. About 1 1/2 hrs later, it was again observed in the vicinity, about 7 miles northwest of Mcallen, TX. Witnesses stated that the plane made several passes with no lights on, then crashed and burned. Two of the witnesses thought the pilot was landing when the accident occurred. After the crash, voices were heard in the area. An investigation revealed that the plane's right wing had struck a tree before ground impact. About 200 lbs of marijuana was aboard the aircraft and another 200 lbs was located on the ground in the immediate area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42717
- Reported as
- Cessna 182L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18259160
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 144 °F
- Observed at
- MFE, 7 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.