Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Mimbres, New Mexico, June 26, 1995
On June 26, 1995 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N3032R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mimbres, New Mexico (Mimbres, Nm (Private) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND THE SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1995 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mimbres, New Mexico · Mimbres, Nm (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N3032R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT MADE AN UNPLANNED STOP AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT SO A PASSENGER COULD USE FACILITIES. THE RUNWAY SURFACE WAS HARD PACKED DIRT BORDERED BY GRASS AND ALSO SERVED AS THE COMMUNITY GOLF COURSE. ON TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT USED THE GRASS AREA BESIDE THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A DITCH. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 5,888 FEET MSL, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT RESULTING IN A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 9,300 FEET. ACCORDING TO CALCULATIONS DONE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS 216 POUNDS OVER ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT FOR THE RUNWAY USED DUE TO FIELD LENGTH LIMITS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,081 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 918 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1995; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bartelett Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LVS Las Vegas NM at 5:20 pm
- Destination: Nogales
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 3,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N3032R 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.