Cessna 172 accident near Rutheron, New Mexico, July 17, 1983
On July 17, 1983 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8198B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rutheron, New Mexico. 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).
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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 17, 1983 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rutheron, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8198B · registry record · serial 29998
- 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 THE GROUND INADVERTANTLY AFTER DROPPING EMERGENCY DRILLING EQUIPMENT AT A DRILLING SITE. THE PLT WAS MAKING ANOTHER PASS TO CHECK ON THE DROP WHEN THE ACFT STARTED TO DESCEND. IN SPITE OF POWER APPLICATION THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO AN AREA OF TREES AND POLES. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AFTER IMPACT AND WAS SECURED BY THE PLT. THE SITE ALTITUDE WAS 7500 FT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED BLACK AND GRAY SOOT ON THE SPARK PLUGS WHICH IS 'INDICATIVE OF A RICH MIXTURE.' THE PLT HAD APPROACHED AT 70 KTS IAS WITH 10-20 DEGREES OF FLAPS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 718 hours in all; 489 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1982; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 98V El Vado NM at 2:00 pm
- Destination: NM31 Edgewood NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 FTW83LA336.