Cessna 182R accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, June 12, 2003
On June 12, 2003 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N6319H, was destroyed in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico (Hobbs Industrial Airpark airport). It was an other work-use 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's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2003 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hobbs, New Mexico · Hobbs Industrial Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6319H · no longer on the register · serial 18267882
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Civil Air Patrol private pilot had recently (he had logged 24 tows) been signed off to tow gliders. He said that his initial climb incline was 20 degrees, and his airspeed was approximately 50 knots [the airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the flaps up, power off stall speed is 54 knots]. Several witnesses said that the airplane departed at a high angle of attack, and then mush/stalled into a T-hangar. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were bent and wrinkled, and both the fuselage and empennage were bent and wrinkled. The density altitude was calculated to be 7,070 feet.
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: 353 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 34 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,995.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2003; 22.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NM83 Hobbs NM at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 8,810 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from HOB, 5 miles away
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.