Cessna 172L accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico, July 4, 1985
On July 4, 1985 at about 9:52 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N4349Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico (Lordsburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- July 4, 1985 · about 9:52 pm local time
- Place
- Lordsburg, New Mexico · Lordsburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4349Q · no longer on the register · serial 17260249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE HAD ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE WHILE EN ROUTE & HIS PASSENGERS BECAME AIR SICK. HE DECIDED TO LAND AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. THE LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHILE TAXIING TO THE RAMP, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED WHAT ONE WITNESS DESCRIBED AS A 'WHIRL WIND' OR 'DUST DEVIL' & WAS FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK.
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: 129 hours in all; 39 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P33 Wilcox AZ at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from DMN, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.