Piper PA-28-180 accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, May 2, 2002
On May 2, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7504W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Santa Teresa airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions resulting in a loss of control of the airplane during the landing. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Santa Teresa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7504W · registry record · serial 28-2905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During, the landing on runway 28, the airplane veered off the runway when it encountered gusty crosswinds. The nearest weather observation facility ( located approximately 22 nautical miles east of the accident site) reported the wind from 220 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 16 knots. Further, the wind was reported as variable from 180 degrees to 260 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 469 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 394 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 1996
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJT San Angelo TX
- Destination: DMN Deming NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from ELP, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.