Piper PA-24-260 accident near Anthony, New Mexico, April 23, 1983
On April 23, 1983 at about 11:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8728P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anthony, New Mexico. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 23, 1983 · about 11:38 pm local time
- Place
- Anthony, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8728P · registry record · serial 24-4178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS IN CRUISE FLT. THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH & THEN LOST POWER COMPLETELY. HIS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. THEROAD HAD 3 FT HIGH DIRT BANKS ON EITHER SIDE ABOUT 28 FT APART. THE WINGS STRUCK THE EMBANKMENTS. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND TEST RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND PERFORMED NORMALLY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 9,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1983; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-D4AS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7E0 Aquila AZ
- Destination: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from ELP, 25 miles away
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.