Deming Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Deming, New Mexico 88030
Sunday, November 30, 2003 11:35 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was on approach to the airport. At 5 nautical miles from the airport, the airplane was approximately 4,000 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the landing gear, set 30 degrees of flaps, and initiated several "S" turns to lose altitude. The pilot said that at 2 miles from the runway, he switched his fuel selector to the right fuel tank, which had more fuel. The pilot continued the "S" turns until he was 1/3 mile from the end of the runway. When he applied power to level off, there was no response. The pilot selected a field to the right of his final approach course. The airplane touched down approximately 20 feet short of his intended field. The airplane struck a wrought iron fence, collapsing the nose gear and the left main landing gear. An examination of the engine showed no evidence of fuel in the fuel distribution manifold or fuel lines. An examination of the fuel tanks showed some fuel in the right fuel tank. An examination of the airplane's, engine controls and remaining systems revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision. Factors contributing to the accident were fuel exhaustion and the fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1135
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Deming
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88030
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 321544N
Event Location Longitude 1074314W
Event Location Airport Deming Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DMN
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 260
Airport Elevation 4200
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID DMN
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) 4783
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15118
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albuquerque, NM FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N81PC
NTSB Number DEN04LA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number T210K59381
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 4 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 163.7
Airframe Hours 5320.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John H. Austin
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Oakland
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94618
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 OAK
Departure City Oakland
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 500
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code DMN
Destination City Deming
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 13 2004 11:47AM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --