# NTSB WPR25LA207: Cessna 182B, N7166E, Belen, NM, July 4, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 4, 2025, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Belen, NM · BRG
- Coordinates: 34.645862, -106.83634 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6459&lon=-106.8363&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200514
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA207
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200514/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA207

## Preliminary report

On July 4, 2025, about 0900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182B, N7166E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Belen, New Mexico. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne prematurely, when the airspeed indicator displayed 40 knots. They thought it was due to ground effect, and leveled the airplane to gain airspeed, however, the indicated airspeed did not increase. The pilot stated that while in ground effect, the airplane’s ground speed increased, and the airplane “felt” like it wanted to climb. Near the end of the available runway, the pilot concluded that the airspeed indicator was not displaying correctly, and was unsure how fast the airplane was flying, and initiated a climb, as the airspeed continued to indicate 40 knots. The pilot remained within the airport traffic pattern for runway 03, and while on downwind, noticed the indicated airspeed rose to 60 knots, then while on final, it had reduced to 40 knots. During landing, the airplane bounced and subsequently landed hard on the nose landing gear. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the forward fuselage and engine mount. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072706), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7166E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7166E), registered now, S/N 52166, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182B
- Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 52166
- Year built: 1959
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: BRG, Belen Regional Airport, runway 03/21, 6,601 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: KBRG
- METAR: KBRG 041415Z AUTO 03003KT 10SM 20/12 A3022 RMK AO2 T02040121

## 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 20250704009809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250704009809A), Jul 4, 2025: Cessna 182B, Belen, NM, Substantial damage. This accident occurred on 07/04/2025 at approximately 0900 during a sightseeing pleasure flight in a Cessna 182B at kbrg and no flight plan was filed. The…

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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