Cessna 182D accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, September 2, 1986
On September 2, 1986 at about 5:53 am local time, a Cessna 182D, registered N83F, was destroyed in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 2, 1986 · about 5:53 am local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182D · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N83F · no longer on the register · serial 18253539
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED THE ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, CORONADO ARPT, AT 2248 MDT, SEPTEMBER 1, 1986, EN ROUTE TO LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO. WHEN THE ACFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AS SCHEDULED, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE FLIGHT WAS LOST ON RADAR AT 2353 MDT, 15 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF LAS VEGAS. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT 1700 MDT ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1986. THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A 90 DEGREE LEFT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA 425 FEET LONG. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS THUNDERSTORMS WITH RAIN SHOWERS AND HAIL.
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: 868 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 682 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC Albuquerque NM at 4:48 am
- Destination: LVS Las Vegas NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 28 knots, gusting 34
- Sky: not recorded at 600 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 am from LVS, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.