Piper PA32-301 accident near Raton, New Mexico, September 6, 1982
On September 6, 1982 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32-301, registered N8200M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raton, New Mexico (La Mesa Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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
- September 6, 1982 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Raton, New Mexico · La Mesa Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-301 · all PA32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8200M · no longer on the register · serial 328006048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPORT REGULATIONS WERE SUCH THAT HE HAD TO MAKE A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 17. THE WIND WAS FROM 350 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. FORWARD ELEVATOR WAS APPLIED TO BREAK THE STALL AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT HIT SOFT DIRT AND A DITCH CAUSING THE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 801 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 756 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,094 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pioneer Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: Q65 Raton NM at 4:00 pm
- Destination: PNC Ponca City OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 5,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8200M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.