Accident Details
On September 29, 2013, at approximately 1530 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182J (registration N3078F) landed short of the runway at Dona Ana County Airport (5T6) in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a skydiving flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight had originated from 5T6 about 1505.
Pilot Account
The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. He reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he was returning to the airport after parachutists had exited the airplane. During the descent, he momentarily opened the throttle several times to "clear" the engine. Carburetor heat was applied throughout the descent. When the pilot advanced the throttle to level off in the traffic pattern, the engine failed to respond. He immediately turned toward runway 28, but the airplane landed short of the runway.
Post-Accident Inspection
Post-accident inspection revealed that the firewall was buckled and the nose landing gear was bent forward. The engine was functionally tested by the operator and operated normally. The operator expressed the opinion that when the pilot advanced the throttle to level off, the engine "loaded up" and failed to respond.
Aircraft and Damage
The Cessna 182J, a single-engine aircraft, was substantially damaged. No other injuries or damage were reported.