Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Toadlena, New Mexico, February 18, 1982
On February 18, 1982 at about 5:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N29665, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toadlena, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 18, 1982 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Toadlena, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N29665 · no longer on the register · serial 28R 7931209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT IN PIPER PA-28RT, N29665, WAS USING A CALL SIGN, N1104X, WHICH WAS THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF A DESTROYED PA-32. HE WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO FL200, BUT AS HE CONTINUED, HIS SPEECH BECAME SLURRED. HE ACKNOWLEDGED AN ARTC INSTRUCTION TO CHECK HIS OXYGEN AND INSTRUMENTS AND TO DESCEND TO 15,000 FT, BUT HE DID NOT COMPLY. AFTER THAT, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO RADIO CALLS. A C-130 AIRCREW MADE A RENDEZVOUS (AT NIGHT), BUT DETECTED NO OCCUPANTS OR SIGNS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. N29665 WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOPILOT (WITH ALTITUDE HOLD), OXYGEN, AND AN AUTO-GEAR LOWERING SYSTEM. AFTER AIRBORNE ABOUT 3 HRS (TIME TO USE 1 FUEL TANK), THE PLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND AND WAS OBSERVED ENTERING A FOG BANK NEAR THE CRASH SITE. IT CRASHED WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, ELEVATION 6250 FT MSL, FUEL SELECTOR TO THE EMPTY LEFT TANK (RIGHT TANK WAS FULL). THE PILOT WAS FOUND ALIVE, 6 1/2 HRS LATER. THE OXYGEN TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY, VALVE AT "OFF" POSITION, OXYGEN AVAILABLE FOR PILOT USE, BUT THE OXYGEN MASKS WERE STILL PACKAGED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,021 hours in all; 81 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 829 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Taos NM
- Destination: Las Vegas NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.