Cessna 182P accident near Van Horn, Texas, April 23, 1983
On April 23, 1983 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N5990J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Horn, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Van Horn, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5990J · no longer on the register · serial 18263602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A RAVINE AFTER LEAVING THE RWY DURING A CROSSWIND LANDING. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY AND WAS MAKING AND ENROUTE LANDING. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE 2700 RT PRIVATE GRAVEL STRIP THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 06. HE SAID HE WS AWARE OF A CROSSWIND BUT FELT IT W AS NOT TOO BAD OR THAT IT WARRANTED A RETURN TO MIDLAND WITHOUT LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN A GUST OF WIND SWERVED THE ACFT INTO A SMALL RAVINE. THE COLLISION SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR AND DAMAGED OTHER PARTS OF THE ACFT. THE PILOT REPORED THE WIND FROM THE EAST AT 25 KTS GUSTING TO 30 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 923 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 8, 1982; 138 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.