Piper PA-28-180 N9455J

Summary

On 19 August 1997 at about 04:05 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N9455J, operated by Gary M. Cavasos, was involved in an accident near Gila, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 August 1997 at 04:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Gila, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

32.9599, -108.5697

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N9455J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gary M. Cavasos

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bullhead City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW97LA315

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a ground swerve, and collision with vegetation (cactus) and a fence. Related factors were: the soft runway condition and surrounding obstructions (high vegetation and fence).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that during a flight, the passenger became ill, and he landed at a private airstrip. After the passenger felt better, the pilot elected to takeoff at dusk from the unlit airstrip. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered soft terrain, veered left, and the left wing struck a cactus and a fence. The airplane then went back onto the runway area and exited the other side before being maneuvered back onto the runway. During the sequence, a fuel cell in the left wing ruptured, and a fire erupted, resulting in extensive damage. Subsequent investigation by the New Mexico State Police showed the pilot's blood alcohol content was '0.203.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.