ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 171589
This record has been locked for editing.
| Date: | Monday 24 November 2014 |
| Time: | 12:45 |
| Type: |  Van's RV-3 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N625ZH |
| MSN: | 11299 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1997 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 291 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Las Cruces Int'l Airport (KLRU), Las Cruces, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Las Cruces, NM (LRU) |
| Santa Teresa, NM (5T6) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Several witnesses reported that they observed the airplane make a steep climb shortly after takeoff and that the airplane then made two 90-degree left bank turns to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During the turns, the airplane’s wings were rocking back and forth, the airplane was in a nose-high attitude and not climbing, and the flight control surfaces were moving. The airplane then began another left turn, the left wing dropped, and the airplane spun toward the ground. One witness reported that the engine sounded normal throughout the flight. A friend of the pilot stated that the pilot had purchased the airplane 2 days before the accident and had no previous flight experience in the airplane make and model. He estimated that the pilot had only flown the airplane about 4.0 hours before the accident. Based on witness accounts, there were no preaccident anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot lost control of the airplane while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in a stall/spin. It is also likely that the pilot’s lack of experience in the airplane type contributed to his failure to maintain airplane control during the turns. Although postaccident toxicology tests detected a low level of marijuana in the pilot’s blood, liver, and lung, it is unlikely that it impaired his performance on the day of the accident.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain adequate familiarization in the accident airplane type before the accident.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Media:
Image from the scene of a fatal plane at Las Cruces International Airport. NMSP confirms 1 dead @CrucesSunNews pic.twitter.com/Ju8FA8LbM2
— Robin Zielinski (@Ikillthelight) November 24, 2014Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Nov-2014 20:55 | harro | Added |
| 24-Nov-2014 21:33 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 04-Dec-2014 17:57 | Geno | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 30-Nov-2017 19:34 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
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