Piper PA-28-180 accident near Magdalena, New Mexico, February 13, 1993
On February 13, 1993 at about 8:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N2187R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Magdalena, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND THE DARK NIGHT
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1993 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Magdalena, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2187R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW MEXICO THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES AND WAS 35 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. PRIOR TO DEPARTING CALIFORNIA THERE WAS 48 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD. A REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD REACHED ITS ENDURANCE LIMITS AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND FUEL WAS ADDED PRIOR TO A PLANNED ENGINE RUN. THE ENGINE WAS RUN AND IT ACHIEVED NORMAL OPERATIONS THROUGH ALL RPM RANGES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 155 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA at 3:23 pm
- Destination: ONM Socorro NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.