Cessna 340A accident near Angle Fire, New Mexico, September 1, 2008
On September 1, 2008 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N397RA, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Angle Fire, New Mexico (Angel Fire 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
Controlled flight into terrain for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2008 · about 2:45 am local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Angle Fire, New Mexico · Angel Fire · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A Ram 4 · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N397RA · no longer on the register · serial 340A-0009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was cleared for a GPS approach and broke out of the clouds at 1,800 feet. He entered a left hand traffic pattern and his last recollection was turning base. He woke up in the crashed airplane which was on fire. The airplane was destroyed. An examination of airplane 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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,725 hours in all; 625 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,507.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 6,430 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Tcm TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Tcm TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Houston TX at 11:30 pm
- Destination: AXX Angle Fire NM
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 am from AXX, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N397RA: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 340 706 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Tcm TSIO-520-NB 52 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Tcm TSIO-520-NB 52 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Angel Fire Airport · nearest airport
- David Wayne Hooks Memorial · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,113 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN08LA145.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.