Cessna T182RG accident near Silver City, New Mexico, July 18, 1983
On July 18, 1983 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Cessna T182RG, registered N4830S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Silver City, New Mexico (Whiskey Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- July 18, 1983 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Silver City, New Mexico · Whiskey Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182RG · all T182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4830S · no longer on the register · serial R18201404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 200 FT AGL THE ACFT LOST POWER. THE PLT MADE A GEAR UP LANDING. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE MAGNETO TIMING WAS FOUND TO BE INCORRECT. ALSO THE MAGNETO CAM RETAINING SCREW WAS LOOSE. THIS ACFT HAS A DUAL MAGNETO WITH ONE DRIVE. THEREFORE THE LOOSE SCREW ALLOWED BOTH MAGS TO BE OUT OF TIME RESULTING IN POWER LOSS OR ENGINE FAILURE. AFTER THE MAGNETOS WERE TIMED THE ENGINE RAN 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,630 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 1,590 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 419 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1983; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 94E Silver City MN at 2:50 pm
- Destination: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4830S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.