Cessna 182G N3223S

Summary

On 16 September 1991 at about 14:12 local time, a Cessna 182G registered N3223S, operated by Claude B. McAfee, was involved in an accident near Elida, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 1991 at 14:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Elida, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

33.9392, -103.6503

Aircraft

Cessna 182G

Registration

N3223S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Claude B. McAfee

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Portales → Artesia

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN91FA130

3 people died.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION FOR THE FLIGHT AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS: HEAVY FOG AND LOW CEILING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITHOUT A WEATHER BRIEFING OR FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. AFTER TAKEOFF, AND WITHIN SEVERAL MILES OF THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. WITNESSES COULD HEAR THE AIRCRAFT FLYING OVERHEAD, BUT BECAUSE OF LOW CEILINGS AND HEAVY FOG THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRCRAAFT. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE SOUND SUDDENLY STOPPED AND LATER, WHEN THE FOG LIFTED, THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE GROUND IN A NEARBY PASTURE WHERE THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND BURNING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.