Piper PA-22 accident near Lake Arthur, New Mexico, August 6, 1982
On August 6, 1982 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N1489A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Arthur, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- August 6, 1982 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Arthur, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N1489A · registry record · serial 22-399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE ON A FLIGHT TO PICK UP SPARE PARTS. THE PASSENGER RECALLED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PILOT REMARKED, "OH, I CAN'T RESIST" AND STARTED TO DESCEND, THEN MADE A PASS AT ABOUT 50 FT OVER A FIELD HAND. THE FIELD HAND, A MEXICAN NATIONAL, REPORTED THAT THE PLANE MADE TWO PASSES OVER HIM AND HE JUMPED INTO A DITCH FOR FEAR OF BEING STRUCK. AFTER THE SECOND PASS, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK LEVEL GROUND WHILE IN A RELATIVELY LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN CONVERTED/EQUIPPED WITH CONVENTIONAL GEAR (FIXED TAILWHEEL) ON 1/2/82.
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: 743 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,032 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Roswell NM at 8:26 am
- Destination: Artesia-Roswell NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 171°F (77°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.