Cessna 182R accident near Eagle Nest, New Mexico, December 16, 1994
On December 16, 1994 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N182X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagle Nest, 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
THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INTO RISING TERRAIN WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLIMB PERFORMANCE AVAILABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES AND TERRAIN. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1994 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle Nest, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N182X · registry record · serial 18267956
- 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 THE PILOT WAS USING A ROAD TO ASSIST IN HIS NAVIGATION. THE ROAD MADE A SHARP TURN, AND THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF IT, AND TURNED TOWARD HIGHER TERRAIN. AS HE WAS MANEUVERING IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN BACK, HE NOTICED THAT HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE. DURING THE LOSS OF ALTITUDE, THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE TREES.
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: 203 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 151 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,266 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 16, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U-17 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAO Clayton NM at 9:15 pm
- Destination: AXX Angle Fire NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.