Piper PA-18-150 N8999

Summary

On 7 July 1983 at about 12:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N8999 was involved in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

7 July 1983 at 12:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Mid Valley (E98)

Coordinates

34.8109, -106.7305

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N8999

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

FTW83LA322

2 people were seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE TOW PLANE COLLIDED WITH A VAN ON THE RWY DURING TAKEOFF. THE VAN HAD BEEN PARKED THERE ON PURPOSE BY THE ARPT OWNER TO CLOSE THE RWY. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NOTIFIED THE FAA OF THE CLOSING BUT NO NOTAM HAD BEEN ISSUED ON 7/7/83. A NOTAM WAS ISSUED FOR 7/6/83. THE ARPT OWNER REPORTEDLY DROVE THE VAN DOWN THE RWY WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND STOPPED ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD WITH THE INTENTION OF PREVENTING THE TAKEOFF. THE VAN WAS EMPTY OF OCCUPANTS WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE TOW PLANE PLT AND HIS COMPANIONS SAW THE VAN LIGHTS, BUT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WOULD CLEAR THE RUNWAY. THE TOW PLANE VISION WAS REDUCED BY A CAMERA AND PASSENGER (PHOTOGRAPHER) IN FRONT OF HIM. DURING TAKEOFF THE GLIDER PLTSAW THE VAN WOULD NOT BE CLEARED AND RELEASED HIS TOW AND LANDED ON A TAXIWAY. THE TOW PLANE DID NOT CLEAR THE VAN AND COLLISION OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RWY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.