Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Reserve, New Mexico, May 11, 1985
On May 11, 1985 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7439J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reserve, New Mexico (Reserve airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- May 11, 1985 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Reserve, New Mexico · Reserve · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7439J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30784
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 100 FT AGL, THE ACFT STOPPED CLIMBING AND STARTED DESCENDING. UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT, THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE TOP OF A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND THE MAIN AND NOSE GEARS COLLAPSED ON LANDING. DENSITY ALT AT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7900 FT. THE MAX DENSITY ALT LISTED ON THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE VS DENSITY ALT CHART IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK IS 7000 FT. THE PLT STATED HE BELIEVED EITHER A DOWNDRAFT OR WIND SHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED AFTER TAKEOFF, HOWEVER, HE REPORTED A WIND VELOCITY OF 8 KTS.
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: 307 hours in all; 106 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:20 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.