New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Big Six General Partnership

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Albuquerque Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed after the hydraulic pump was inop. The pilot shut down the right engine and feathered its propeller before initiated a turn back to the airport. The airplane nosed down then crashed in flames. The pilot and a passenger were killed while four other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Nose down and subsequent crash due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Engine structure: piston, piston rings,
- Lack of lubrication - specific part, not system,
- Overheated,
- Failure of the hydraulic pump, improperly installed,
- The pilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- High temperature (OAT),
- High density altitude (7,750 feet),
- Rough terrain,
- Landing gear extended during go-around from gear-up approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.125-1A-522 in Taos

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1979 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAe 125

Operator:

Registration:

N3MF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Bartlesville – Taos

MSN:

25093

YOM:

1966

Location:

Taos

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Shrike Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8335

Captain / Total hours on type:

60.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown on runway 04 at Taos Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed on a snowbank. All 10 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Hard landing and subsequent collision with a snowbank upon touchdown following an improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain directional control,
- Overload failure.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Gallup: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1978 at 0850 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

John D. Kennedy

Registration:

N2973F

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Gallup - Albuquerque

MSN:

500S-3062

YOM:

1970

Location:

Gallup

Country:

Region:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1467

Captain / Total hours on type:

517.00

Circumstances:

While taking off from Gallup-Senator Clark Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in flames. The passenger was killed while the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ice,
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls,
- Frost on aircraft,
- Turbochargers not used on takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 80 in New Mexico: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1978 at 1004 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Don Zimmermann Aviation

Registration:

N886G

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Oberlin - Phoenix

MSN:

LD-137

YOM:

1963

Location:

Torreon

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3665

Circumstances:

While cruising in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a hilly terrain in the region of Torreon. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and collision with ground after the pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Spatial disorientation,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Aircraft inverted at impact,
- No instrument time logged since Nov 6, 1976,
- Mountains and passes obscured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2J Marquise in Raton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1978 at 2337 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Special Jet

Registration:

N178MA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Kansas City - Raton

MSN:

554

YOM:

1972

Location:

Raton

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3702

Captain / Total hours on type:

679.00

Circumstances:

While descending by night to Raton Airport on a taxi flight from Kansas City, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. The wreckage was found two days later.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain while descending by night due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Alcohol 64 mg % from lung tissue and 54 mg % from gastric contents.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411A near Santa Fe: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1978 at 1946 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

James E. Ferguson

Registration:

N417DR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sierra Vista - Lamar

MSN:

411-0265

YOM:

1967

Location:

Santa Fe

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2700

Circumstances:

While flying by night at an altitude of 11,700 feet, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Santa Fe. The wreckage and all six dead bodies were found a week later, on April 2.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain caused by inadequate preflight preparation and improper in-flight decisions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing EC-135K Stratotanker near Kirtland AFB: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1977 at 2348 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

62-3536

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Refuelling

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kirkland - Nellis

MSN:

18519

YOM:

1963

Location:

Kirtland AFB

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7307

Circumstances:

En route from Kirtland AFB to Nellis AFB, the four engine airplane crashed less than three minutes after a night takeoff in a mountainous area located in the Manzano Mountain Range, about 5 miles east of Kirtland AFB. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. After takeoff from runway 08, ATC informed the crew about an insufficient altitude and instructed the crew to turn to the right and gain height. Shortly later, at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane struck the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain, less than 30 feet below the summit.

Probable cause:

No technical deficiencies were reported on instruments. No structural failure occurred and there was no failure of the electrical system. It is believed that the flying crew neglected the departure procedures due to an intense fatigue and failed to follow the departure and climb track. Investigations revealed that the aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 30°, causing the right wing tip to struck the ground. The engine n°4 was torn off and the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Piñon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1976 at 0010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N54294

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

31-7405231

YOM:

1974

Location:

Piñon

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Apparently coming from Mexico, the twin engine airplane was completing an illegal flight, carrying a load of 600 kilos of marijuana. After a first low pass, the pilot reduced his altitude and while attempting a second low pass, probably to jettison the load, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. The wreckage was found a day later and both occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground during a low pass by night. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- High obstructions,
- Hit trees on second low pass.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 in Ruidoso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1976 at 1650 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Registration:

N4098L

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ruidoso – Albuquerque

MSN:

340-0084

YOM:

1972

Location:

Ruidoso-Sierra Blanca

Country:

Region: