Cessna 182A accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, December 31, 2005
On December 31, 2005 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4755D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico (Lea County/Hobbs/ airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure to visually verify the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks prior to departure. Contributing factors include the pilot's inadequate preflight, and the transmission wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2005 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hobbs, New Mexico · Lea County/Hobbs/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4755D · no longer on the register · serial 34855
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he "ran out of fuel" on final approach. The airplane's landing gear became entangled in a power line during the emergency descent and the airplane impacted the ground causing substantial damage to the airplane and serious injury to the pilot and passenger. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,833 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,692 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,531.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOB Hobbs NM at 3:40 pm
- Destination: HOB Hobbs NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from HOB, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.