Cessna 182G accident near Silver City, New Mexico, September 27, 2014
On September 27, 2014 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 182G, registered N2309R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Silver City, New Mexico (Me-Own airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot overcorrected when the airplane experienced a downdraft during the takeoff which resulted in the airplane stalling and impacting the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2014 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Silver City, New Mexico · Me-Own · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G G, built 1964 · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2309R · no longer on the register · serial 18255409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he landed to the southeast on the 3,700 foot long grass/gravel airstrip and then taxied back to the northwest end of the runway to takeoff. The field elevation of the airport is 7,554 feet. The pilot set the brakes and advanced the engine power to perform a soft/short field takeoff. The airplane lifted off at about 60 – 62 miles per hour and the pilot kept the airplane in ground effect to gain airspeed. The pilot reported the runway sloped down 20 to 25 feet at a point about 1,200 prior to the departure end of the runway. Upon reaching the downslope, the airplane lost lift as if it encountered a downdraft. The pilot reported he overcorrected and the airplane stalled. The left wing contacted the runway, followed by the landing gear and the right wing. The nose gear collapsed which resulted in the airplane coming to a stop. The pilot was able to exit the airplane before it was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction of the airplane which would have preclude normal operation.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 471.2 hours in all; 248.8 in this make and model; 14.6 in the last 90 days; 14.6 in the last 30 days; 349.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 20, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,566.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-R (piston); 1,515 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 1NM0 Silver City NM
- Destination: ROW Roswell NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
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.