Cessna 182RG accident near Antelope Wells, New Mexico, September 1, 1988
On September 1, 1988 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182RG, registered N3184C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Antelope Wells, New Mexico (Ranch Strip airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 1, 1988 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Antelope Wells, New Mexico · Ranch Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182RG · all 182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N3184C · no longer on the register · serial R-18200252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS FLYING THREE PASSENGERS TO BUY CATTLE. DURING TAKEOFF FROM A 5,000 X 75 FT, WET GRAVEL AIRSTRIP, THE PLT ELECTED TO USE ONLY THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY TO AVOID MUD. HE USED A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF, WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WHICH LIMITED HIS FORWARD VISIBILITY. HE DID NOT NOTICE SEVERAL PILES OF GRAVEL ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. JUST PRIOR TO LIFTOFF, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HIT A PILE OF GRAVEL AND THE ACFT TURNED LEFT, DEPARTING THE RWY. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE HIT ANOTHER PILE OF GRAVEL AND TORE A 3 FT LONG HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TAXIED BACK TO THE STARTING POINT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS PUSHED BACK AND THE GEAR MOUNT WAS DAMAGED. THE FUSELAGE WAS EXTENSIVELY WRINKLED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,037 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 181 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 4,759 as pilot in command; 1,989 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,184 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 27, 1988; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Destination: DMN Deming NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.