Cessna 177 accident near Springer, New Mexico, July 31, 1982
On July 31, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30157, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springer, New Mexico. 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
- July 31, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Springer, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30157 · registry record · serial 17701086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE ON A FLIGHT FROM GALLUP, NM TO DALHART, TX, THE LEFT FUEL TANK WOULD NOT FEED. THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON ROUGH, GRASSY TERRAIN WITH NO DAMAGE. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE TAB FOR THE LEFT FILLER CAP WAS BROKEN AND THE CAP WAS NOT SEATED. DUE TO UNEVEN PRESSURES IN THE TANKS, ALL OF THE FUEL HAD BEEN FLOWING FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AND THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, THE EMPENNAGE STRUCK A FENCE DURING THE TAKEOFF, DAMAGING THE LEFT ELEVATOR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED IN THE NEXT FIELD WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE. THE TEMPERATURE AND ELEVATION WERE 85 DEGREES AND ABOUT 6000 FT.
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: 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,652 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gallup NM at 9:00 am
- Destination: Dalhart TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.