Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico, June 27, 1985
On June 27, 1985 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8180F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1985 · about 4:35 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Lordsburg, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8180F · registry record · serial 32R-8029076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM A DIRT ROAD AT OR NEAR MAX GROSS WIEGHT AND AT HIGH DENSITY ALT CONDITIONS. THE PLT SAID THERE WAS A SMALL RISE IN THE ROAD AND HE EASED BACK ON THE CONTROL YOKE. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, STRIKING TWO MOUNDS OF DIRT. THE PLT SAID HE RECALLED THE LAST INDICATED AIRSPEED READOUT AS BEING 65 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: 1,501 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 1,373 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,091 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1984; 466 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from DMN, 56 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8180F on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Lance and Saratoga 3,916 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Albuquerque International Sunport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,114 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN85LA175.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.