Piper PA 24-180 accident near Socorro, New Mexico, April 18, 1983
On April 18, 1983 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Piper PA 24-180, registered N5064P, was destroyed in an accident near Socorro, New Mexico (Socorro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 18, 1983 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Socorro, New Mexico · Socorro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 24-180 · all PA 24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5064P · no longer on the register · serial 24-70
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS RETURNING FROM A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT AND CRASH LANDED ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE ARPT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT SAID HE ADDED POWER TO REACH THE RWY BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID TO A STOP. AN FAA REPRESENTATIVE VISITED THE SCENE ABOUT 3 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED HE COULD FIND NO FUEL IN EITHER TANK AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE APPEARED TO BE IN PROPER ORDER. THE ACFT WAS NOT REFUELED AT ITS ENROUTE STOP. THE TOTAL FLT TIME WAS 4 HOURS AND 39 MINUTES SINCE REFUELING.
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: 395 hours in all; 32 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1982; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTN Raton NM at 5:14 pm
- Destination: ONM Socorro NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,848 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.