Cassutt 111M accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, October 25, 1982
On October 25, 1982 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cassutt 111M, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N19L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moriarty, New Mexico (Moriarty airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- October 25, 1982 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · Moriarty · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cassutt 111M, amateur-built
- Registration
- N19L · no longer on the register · serial 162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOKOFF TO DELEIVER THE AIRCRAFT TO A NEW OWNER. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT TURNED AS IF TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND SUDDENLY NOSED DOWN AND DOVE AT A 30 TO 45 DEGREE ANGLE. BEFORE LEVELING OFF, IT MUSHED INTO THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH TO DRIVE LANDING GEAR STRUTS THROUGH THE WINGS. NO ENGINE SOUNDS WERE HEARD AS AIRCRAFT DESCENDED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE EXTREMELY SOOTED. NO OTHER PREIMPACT ENGINE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,171 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 298 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 893 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 10:58 am
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.