Piper PA-18 accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, April 23, 2008
On April 23, 2008 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N1588P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County 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 failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the strong gusty crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2008 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N1588P · registry record · serial 18-3751
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot began a normal approach to runway 28 at his intended destination airport and stated that he had a large crosswind correction because of strong winds from the southwest. The airspeed was indicating between 60 and 70 miles per hour and no flaps were used. The pilot touched down on the main gear slightly to the right of the runway centerline and in good alignment with plenty of runway remaining. The pilot then decided due to the strong winds to attempt a go-around and applied power. According to the pilot's statement, a gust of wind brought the left wing up and the aircraft right wing appeared to be scraping the runway. The aircraft began to turn to the right and went off the north side of the runway at about 90 degrees from the runway heading. The airplane then went through a dried creek bed 10 to 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide approximately 100 feet north of the runway. The nose hit the north rim of the creek bed and the aircraft flipped and came to rest inverted facing to the west. The pilot was able to egress unassisted and sustained only minor injuries. Winds were reported at the time of the accident as 14 knots with gusts to 28 knots from 250 degrees.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 144 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,307 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: War Eagles Air Museum
The flight
- Departed from: Macguire Ranch NM at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from KELP, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.