Piper PA-24-250 accident near Bingham, New Mexico, August 11, 1990
On August 11, 1990 at about 2:42 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5470P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bingham, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1990 · about 2:42 pm local time
- Place
- Bingham, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5470P · no longer on the register · serial PA-24-527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE QUIT AT CRUISE WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD COVERED WITH MADRONA CEDAR BRUSH. THE WINGS STRUCK THE BRUSH, TORE HALF THE LEFT WING OFF, BENT THE RIGHT WING BACK AND BENT THE FUSELAGE BEHIND THE CABIN. THE PILOT SAID HE FLEW 3 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES, AND SHOULD HAVE HAD FUEL LEFT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT'S TANKS, AND NO FUEL SPILL. THE INVESTIGATION COULD NOT VERIFY THE TAKEOFF TIME, AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD, OR THE EXACT TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 352 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 294 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A&E Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: L15 Henderson NV at 11:17 am
- Destination: ATS Artesia NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.