Socorro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Monday, April 18, 1983 12:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT AND CRASH LANDED ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE ARPT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT SAID HE ADDED POWER TO REACH THE RWY BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID TO A STOP. AN FAA REPRESENTATIVE VISITED THE SCENE ABOUT 3 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED HE COULD FIND NO FUEL IN EITHER TANK AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE APPEARED TO BE IN PROPER ORDER. THE ACFT WAS NOT REFUELED AT ITS ENROUTE STOP. THE TOTAL FLT TIME WAS 4 HOURS AND 39 MINUTES SINCE REFUELING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/18/1983
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SOCORRO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87801
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOCORRO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ONM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 4796
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1901
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22293
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5064P
NTSB Number FTW83LA196
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 24-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA 24-180
Aircraft Serial Number 24-70
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 15 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 5300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT A. DRAGON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 135 PECAN DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City LAS CRUCES
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 RTN
Departure City RATON
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1014
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ONM
Destination City SOCORRO
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 5848
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --