Cessna 182S accident near Los Cruces, New Mexico, August 5, 2011
On August 5, 2011 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182S, registered N493JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Los Cruces, New Mexico (Las Cruces International Airpo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of aircraft control due to insufficient aircraft performance during takeoff, with a heavy gross weight and a high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2011 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Los Cruces, New Mexico · Las Cruces International Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182S · all 182Ss on the register
- Registration
- N493JL · registry record · serial 18280138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during takeoff the airplane's airspeed was not increasing above 40 knots and he elected to abort the takeoff. The pilot pulled back on the control yoke to slow down and applied the brakes. The airplane bounced two or three times, and then the landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall. Witnesses reported that the airplane was approximately 30 to 40 feet above the ground before it descended back to the runway and bounced three times. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector calculated the density altitude as 7,700 feet and the weight of the airplane near the maximum takeoff weight. The FAA inspector confirmed that there were no mechanical anomalies or failures with the airplane, engine, or related systems prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 15, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix Flyers INC
The flight
- Departed from: LRU Los Cruces NM
- Destination: KDVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 7,499 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KLRU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.