Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Los Almos, New Mexico, June 9, 1985
On June 9, 1985 at about 11:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N8651C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Almos, New Mexico (Los Alamos airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- June 9, 1985 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- Los Almos, New Mexico · Los Alamos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N8651C · registry record · serial 28R7635170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS MAKING AN APCH TO RWY 27 AT THE LOS ALAMOS MUNI ARPT IN GUSTY X-WIND CONDITIONS. THE ARPT WAS LOCATED ATOP A MESA & RWY 27 HAD A 1.5% UPHILL RWY GRADIENT. THE PLT SAID HE SELECTED 2 NOTCHES (25 DEG) OF FLAPS. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 TO 240 DEG AT 10 TO 16 KTS. AS THE PLT FLARED TO LAND, A STRONG GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE ACFT TO THE RIGHT OF CENTERLINE. THE PLT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. HOWEVER, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND ADJACENT TO THE RWY & SKIDDED 200 FT BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 7173 FT.
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: 670 hours in all; 191 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 629 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,555 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OKM Okmulgee OK at 5:45 pm
- Destination: LAM Los Almos NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 5,527 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:40 pm from LAM
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.