Piper PA-28-140 accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico, December 27, 1997
On December 27, 1997 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N2343T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico (Sierra Blanca Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Related factors were: the gusty crosswind condition, icy runway, and proximity of the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1997 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ruidoso, New Mexico · Sierra Blanca Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N2343T · registry record · serial 28-7225049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll on an icy runway, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a snow bank. According to the pilot, a 'sudden gust' of wind 'pushed' the airplane to the left. The pilot reported that at the time of the landing on runway 24, the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at the airport was reporting winds from 290 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 21 knots. According to the log kept by airport personnel at the time of the accident, the winds were from 280 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17 knots.
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: 130 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1997; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJT San Angelo TX at 6:50 pm
- Destination: SRR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 8,101 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.