Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Rosa, New Mexico 88435
Thursday, July 25, 1996 10:07 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The climb to a cruising altitude of 15,500 feet msl was normal. After approximately 10 to 15 minutes at cruise altitude, the airplane's engine 'abruptly' lost total power, and an attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The pilot maneuvered to land to the west into the wind on interstate 40. While on short final, a tanker truck pull into the clear area that he had intended to land. He then turned the airplane to the right, and intentionally stalled it into some trees and bushes next to the interstate. The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire. Examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any maintenance anomalies which would have resulted in the loss of power. Fuel samples were taken at the fueling facility where the airplane had last refueled. No contamination was found. A test run of the engine and an examination and flow test of the carburetor were accomplished. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1007
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SANTA ROSA
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88435
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1183
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1874J
NTSB Number FTW96LA317
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Rockwell
Aircraft Model 112TC
Aircraft Series Identifier 112TC
Aircraft Serial Number 13033
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1940
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES L. PIFER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20 SALLY ANN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ORINDA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94563
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ABQ
Departure City ALBEQUERQUE
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ADS
Destination City DALLAS
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --