Cessna 172 accident near Gallup, New Mexico, April 11, 1982
On April 11, 1982 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8408U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Senator Clark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- April 11, 1982 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Senator Clark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8408U · registry record · serial 17252308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE SECOND LANDING OF THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AFTER HITTING SOFT DIRT AND A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED ON THE FIRST LANDING AND HE FELT THAT THE PASSENGER MAY HAVE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FLOWN FROM THE RIGHT SEAT WITH THE PASSENGER IN THE LEFT SEAT.
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: 2,239 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 238 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,382 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUP Gallup NM at 8:15 am
- Destination: GUP Gallup NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:45 am from GUP
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.