Cole Mine Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marfa, Texas 79843
Saturday, May 1, 1999 7:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a north landing at a private airstrip, the airplane drifted left of centerline, and its left main landing gear struck a pile of dirt located on the left side of the approach end of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pile of dirt on the left edge of the runway was the result of construction at the airstrip. According to the pilot, the airstrip elevation rises to the north, and the last 600 feet has a 'dog-leg' to the right. He added that all pilots approach to the north over the left side of the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that the wind was calm, and he had landed at the airstrip in 'a Maule 5 times previously.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the dirt bank during the landing flare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/1/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 745
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MARFA
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79843
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COLE MINE RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3000
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 829
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 1 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2047
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N95631
NTSB Number FTW99LA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182Q
Aircraft Series Identifier 182Q
Aircraft Serial Number 18266585
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 5 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 2690
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JERRY R. HILL
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 573
Aircraft Owner City CLIFTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76634
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GENE DAWSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8000-8 AIRPORT RD
Operator City SANTA TERESA
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88008
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ELP
Departure City EL PASO
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 645
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 1600
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --