Cessna A185F accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico, September 8, 2000
On September 8, 2000 at about 10:52 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N269DP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico (Sierra Blanca Regional 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 maintain directional control during landing roll. A contributing factor was the crosswind weather condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2000 · about 10:52 pm local time
- Place
- Ruidoso, New Mexico · Sierra Blanca Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N269DP · registry record · serial 18503252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on runway 06. The recorded winds, at 1652, were 150 degrees at 11 knots; the recorded winds at 1645 were 170 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported that the winds were calm. Witnesses stated that the airplane exited the right side of the runway and struck a runway light. The left wheel separated and the airplane nosed over.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 704 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 704 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3T5 La Grange TX at 7:14 pm
- Destination: SRR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 8,099 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 106°F (41°C)
- Observation at 10:52 pm from SRR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.