Cessna 140 accident near Taos, New Mexico, July 25, 1986
On July 25, 1986 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76541, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taos, New Mexico (Taos Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 25, 1986 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Taos, New Mexico · Taos Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76541 · no longer on the register · serial 10977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N76541 TOOK OFF ON RWY 04 ON A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE DAY. THE ACFT WAS SEEN CLIMBING WITH THE NOSE HIGH NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT JUST CLEARED SOME ELECTRICAL LINES NEAR THE END OF THE RWY AND THEN WAS OBSERVED TO DESCEND DOWN TO A HEIGHT VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND. WHEN THE ACFT BANKED TO THE LEFT IT APPEARED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE IMPACTING THE GROUND AND THEN THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP. THERE WAS NO POST ACCIDENT FIRE.
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: 350 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,101 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 1985; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKX Taos NM at 2:48 pm
- Destination: 1W1 Aurora CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4, 5,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.