Piper PA-18-150 accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, July 7, 1983
On July 7, 1983 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N8999, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico (Mid Valley airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1983 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Los Lunas, New Mexico · Mid Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8999 · registry record · serial 18-8883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOW PLANE COLLIDED WITH A VAN ON THE RWY DURING TAKEOFF. THE VAN HAD BEEN PARKED THERE ON PURPOSE BY THE ARPT OWNER TO CLOSE THE RWY. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NOTIFIED THE FAA OF THE CLOSING BUT NO NOTAM HAD BEEN ISSUED ON 7/7/83. A NOTAM WAS ISSUED FOR 7/6/83. THE ARPT OWNER REPORTEDLY DROVE THE VAN DOWN THE RWY WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND STOPPED ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD WITH THE INTENTION OF PREVENTING THE TAKEOFF. THE VAN WAS EMPTY OF OCCUPANTS WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE TOW PLANE PLT AND HIS COMPANIONS SAW THE VAN LIGHTS, BUT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WOULD CLEAR THE RUNWAY. THE TOW PLANE VISION WAS REDUCED BY A CAMERA AND PASSENGER (PHOTOGRAPHER) IN FRONT OF HIM. DURING TAKEOFF THE GLIDER PLTSAW THE VAN WOULD NOT BE CLEARED AND RELEASED HIS TOW AND LANDED ON A TAXIWAY. THE TOW PLANE DID NOT CLEAR THE VAN AND COLLISION OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RWY.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 am from ABQ, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW83LA322.