- Date
- July 7, 1983, 06:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place
- Los Lunas, NM
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8999Piper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830707030929A
- Case key
- 20966
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 tow plane collided with a van on the rwy during takeoff. The van had been parked there on purpose by the arpt owner to close the rwy. He stated that he had notified the FAA of the closing but no NOTAM had been issued on 7/7/83. A NOTAM was issued for 7/6/83. The arpt owner reportedly drove the van down the rwy with the lights on and stopped about 1000 ft from the threshold with the intention of preventing the takeoff. The van was empty of occupants when the collision occurred. The tow plane plt and his companions saw the van lights, but believed the vehicle would clear the runway. The tow plane vision was reduced by a camera and passenger (photographer) in front of him. During takeoff the glider pltsaw the van would not be cleared and released his tow and landed on a taxiway. The tow plane did not clear the van and collision occurred in the middle of the rwy.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8999
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8883
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Etchison G. Lill
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1983
- Airport
- E98 · Mid Valley, runway 17, 4,200 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Rear
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABQ, 25 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.