Cessna 182J accident near Belen, New Mexico, February 11, 2014
On February 11, 2014 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 182J, registered N300EM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Muni airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel onboard for the intended flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2014 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J, built 1966 · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N300EM · registry record · serial 18257529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff the airplane experienced an engine failure. The pilot made an off airport landing and struck a pole, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot obtained assistance from personnel at the airport, who delivered approximately 20 gallons of fuel to the scene and helped the pilot move the airplane to a nearby road. The pilot subsequently took off from the road and flew to a different airport about eight miles away from the departure point. Approximately 14 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane after landing. The airplane was subsequently refueled and flown back to the departure airport. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with an engine failure due to fuel starvation.
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
- Aircraft servicing event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Driving Success INC
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from E80
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.