Culver V accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, September 17, 1993
On September 17, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Culver V, registered N44680, was destroyed in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico (Seven Rivers airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. A FACTOR WAS A LEAKING O-RING IN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, New Mexico · Seven Rivers · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Culver V · all Vs on the register
- Registration
- N44680 · registry record · serial V71
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 150 FEET. AS THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR HE NOTICED A LIGHT COLORED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND ALIGNED IT WITH THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND OUT OF CONTROL. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A DETERIORATED AND LEAKING O-RING IN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
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: 1,643 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-85-12-FJH (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from CNM, 18 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 FTW93LA261.