First Point Of Impact (FPI) Was Identified By A 50-Foot-Long Section Of A Radio Tower

Location: Carlsbad, NM Accident Number: WPR22FA043
Date & Time: November 19, 2021, 11:30 Local Registration: N91AZ
Aircraft: Cessna 182Q Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

On November 19, 2021, about 1130 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182Q Skylane, N91AZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight.

The pilot departed Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field (KODO) Odessa, Texas about 0930 central standard time for an aerial pipeline and oil well survey, with an intended destination of Gaines County Airport, (KGNC), Seminole, Texas.

The accident airplane was found about 12 nm northwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico on a dirt field at a field elevation of about 3,300 ft mean sea level. All four corners of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The first point of impact (FPI) was identified by a 50-foot-long section of a radio tower and several broken guy wires attached to their respective ground anchor about 240 ft north of the radio tower. The right wing was in 2 sections; the outboard section of the right wing was located about 60 ft north of the tower while the inboard section was located about 620 ft west of the tower. A debris path was marked by broken pieces of tower structure and red colored light bulb covers, also from the tower, that were scattered throughout the debris field from the tower to the main wreckage site. An impact scar was in the debris path about 30 ft north of the main wreckage.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov