Cessna 152 accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, February 24, 1984
On February 24, 1984 at about 1:05 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46723, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico. It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1984 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46723 · no longer on the register · serial 15283074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER ON SOFT TERRAIN AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DURING THE LAST LEG OF A X-COUNTRY. THE PLT SAID HE HAD NOT VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS DURING PRE-FLIGHT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE ACFT TANKS OR FUEL LINES TO THE CARBURETOR. THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED ABOUT 1/2 FULL WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 10, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNM Carlsbad NM
- Destination: HOB Hobbs NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.