Cessna R182 accident near Midland, Texas, July 7, 1985
On July 7, 1985 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna R182, registered N1739R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Private Strip airport). It was a business 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
- July 7, 1985 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Private Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N1739R · no longer on the register · serial R18200542
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT ON A PASS OVER THE PVT STRIP THE WIND SOCK AS INDICATING THE WIND OUT OF THE NORTH. IN ACTUALITY, MIDLAND REGIONAL ARPT WAS REPORTING THE WINDS FROM 110 DEGS AT 13 KTS. TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL AIRSPEED. THE ACFT LANDED LONG AND SUBSEQUENTLY RAN THROUGH A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT FLOATED DURING THE FLARE DUE TO THE TAILWIND AND A LOW FUEL LOAD AND BY THE TIME HE GOT THE NOSE GEAR ON THE GROUND, HE WAS COMMITTED AND COULD NOT GO AROUND.
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: 12 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from MAF, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N1739R 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.