Cessna 182J accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, September 29, 2013
On September 29, 2013 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 182J, registered N3078F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because no anomalies were found during the postaccident engine examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2013 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J, built 1968 · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3078F · no longer on the register · serial 18257178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was making a circling descent to the airport after dropping parachutists and that he used carburetor heat during the descent. As the pilot was on the base leg of the landing pattern, close to the turn onto the final leg, the engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane short of the runway, and the firewall buckled and the nose landing gear bent forward. The operator later functionally tested the engine and it operated normally.
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 engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 310 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 16, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2013; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470-R (piston); 138 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM at 8:05 pm
- Destination: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from KELP, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.