Cessna A185E accident near Luna, NM
On October 3, 2004, a Cessna A185E (airplane) was involved in an accident near Luna, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 3, 2004
- Place
- Luna, NM
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185E · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.913°N, 109.023°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041008X01600
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 3, 2004, approximately 1030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N5964, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed when it impacted trees and mountainous terrain while maneuvering after takeoff from a private airstrip, approximately 8 miles north-northwest of Luna, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident. A witness said he saw the airplane come in from the west land on the airstrip at the L.D.W. Ranch. The witness, also the owner of the ranch and airstrip, said the pilot taxied the airplane to the west end of the runway and then took off to the east. The witness said the pilot made a "perfect" takeoff. The witness said that after he could no longer see the airplane he heard what sounded like two shots. He said he thought that "two guys were shooting muzzle loaders" and assumed that the airplane had "scared up some elk for them to shoot at." The witness said he expected the pilot to land at the airstrip when he came back around, but he never returned. The witness said about 30 minutes later he was met by a friend who told him the airplane had gone down. The witness said he went to the crash scene, found the pilot and checked his vital signs. There were none. He then went to notify the sheriff's department. In a telephone interview, the witness said that his wife saw the airplane after t
Probable cause
the pilot's improper use of the mixture control, his failure to maintain clearance from the trees, and his improper preflight planning resulting in his taking off into a canyon and subsequently impacting the trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the trees, and the high density altitude.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
