Piper PA-22-150 accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, August 26, 1990
On August 26, 1990 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3163Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico (Las Vegas airport). 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1990 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, New Mexico · Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3163Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-7114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING IN STRONG AND GUSTY CROSSWINDS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL, THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, THE NOSE GEAR FOLDED, AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. THE PLANE CAME TO REST BESIDE THE RUNWAY, INVERTED. THE LEFT WING, LEFT STRUT, AND VERTICAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED.
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: 110 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCC Tucumcari NM at 6:15 pm
- Destination: LVS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 8,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:34 pm from LVS, 1 miles away
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.