# NTSB FTW92FA048: Cessna 182, N5530B, Santa Teresa, NM, December 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 16, 1991, 05:40 local (12:40 UTC)
- Place: Santa Teresa, NM
- Coordinates: 31.839277, -106.680946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8393&lon=-106.6809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92FA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18347/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92FA048

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT, PILOT'S APPREHENSION, PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, POOR INSTRUMENT LOCATION, VISUAL PERCEPTION AND INADEQUATE COCKPIT LIGHTING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
  - acft/equip,inadequate cockpit/workplace,lighting, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate instrument location, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING A DARK NIGHT FLIGHT THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT FROM A RUNWAY THAT PLACED THE INITIAL CLIMB AND CRUISE OVER DARK DESERT TERRAIN. A RELATIVE OF THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT LIKE NIGHT FLYING AND CONSIDERED SUCH FLYING UNSAFE IN THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE. SEVERAL PILOTS, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE AIRPLANE, REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FLY AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND THE COCKPIT LIGHTS. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED SEVERAL NIGHT TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS THE NIGHT BEFORE THIS FLIGHT; HOWEVER, THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK SHOWED .4 HOUR OF NIGHT TIME LOGGED DURING THE LAST 18 MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THIS FLIGHT. IMPACT OCCURRED INVERTED RIGHT WING TIP FIRST AND THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS 245 FEET LONG. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE DISCOVERED. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS REVEALED A 17% SATURATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5530B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5530B-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 33530, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33530
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-KCL 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marcel Beuden
- Registered owner: Marcel Beuden
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Departed: 5T6, SANTA TERESA, NM
- Destination: TUS, TUCSON, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total, 100 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 35 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 19911216059059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911216059059A), Dec 16, 1991: Cessna 182, Santa Teresa, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost control and crashed inverted on climbout. No ground lights. VFR pilot. High level carbon monoxide in system.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.