Ranch Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Antelope Wells, New Mexico 88020
Thursday, September 1, 1988 17:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS FLYING THREE PASSENGERS TO BUY CATTLE. DURING TAKEOFF FROM A 5,000 X 75 FT, WET GRAVEL AIRSTRIP, THE PLT ELECTED TO USE ONLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY TO AVOID MUD. HE USED A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF, WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WHICH LIMITED HIS FORWARD VISIBILITY. HE DID NOT NOTICE SEVERAL PILES OF GRAVEL ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. JUST PRIOR TO LIFTOFF, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HIT A PILE OF GRAVEL AND THE ACFT TURNED LEFT, DEPARTING THE RWY. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE HIT ANOTHER PILE OF GRAVEL AND TORE A 3 FT LONG HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TAXIED BACK TO THE STARTING POINT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS PUSHED BACK AND THE GEAR MOUNT WAS DAMAGED. THE FUSELAGE WAS EXTENSIVELY WRINKLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ANTELOPE WELLS
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88020
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RANCH STRIP
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4200
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1251
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 2 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1457
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37347
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3184C
NTSB Number DEN88LA196
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 182RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 182RG
Aircraft Serial Number R-18200252
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 27 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 2184
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NOLAND, NEIL R
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 1614
Aircraft Owner City FRITCH
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79036
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMARILLO FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 7, BOX 5
Operator City AMARILLO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79019
Operator Code MABA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DMN
Destination City DEMING
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --