| Crash location | 32.336944°N, 106.916389°W |
| Nearest city | Las Cruces, NM
32.312316°N, 106.778337°W 8.2 miles away |
| Tail number | N8338S |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 12 Oct 2017 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 182H |
| Additional details: | None |
On October 12, 2017, about 2015 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182H airplane, N8338S, impacted terrain near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The flight instructor and student rated pilot were both fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Aero Newton Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight.
Initial reports from local agencies indicated that the night instructional flight was returning to land at the Las Cruces International Airport, (KLRU) Las Cruces, New Mexico, when it collided with terrain under unknown circumstances. A post-impact fire ensued.
The initial impact point consisted of damage to low bushes and outer portions of the left wingtip. The wreckage path followed a general 217° heading. The airplane continued along the wreckage path, coming to rest about 275 ft from the damaged bushes. A post impact fire consumed a majority of the cockpit and fuselage. All major airplane components were located at the accident site. The airplane wreckage was documented on site, and then removed to a secure facility for further examination.
A preliminary review of radar data captured the airplane flying from the Truth or Consequences Airport (KTCS), Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and along Highway I-25 towards Las Cruces. The airplane maneuvered northeast of the KLRU airport, made several turns before it descended towards the terrain.