Grants-Milan Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grants, New Mexico 87020
Tuesady, May 6, 1997 10:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff initial climb, the pilot 'felt a loss of lift during the climb toward rising terrain and the airplane stalled as he pulled the nose up.' The airplane descended uncontrolled into a terrain depression (30 feet across and 50 feet deep) located approximately 1/2 mile beyond the end of the runway. With an airport elevation of 6,521 feet and a temperature of 62 degrees Fahrenheit, the density altitude was calculated at 8,200 feet. The pilot reported 22 hours total time in the make and model of airplane with no flight time in the previous 90 days in this airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Inadvertent stall. Factors were the ground depression, the high density altitude, and a lack of recent experience in the make and model of aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1035
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GRANTS
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87020
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRANTS-MILAN MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GNT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6521
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 355
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 8200
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 392
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 7 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2915V
NTSB Number FTW97LA179
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Callair
Aircraft Model A2A
Aircraft Series Identifier A2A
Aircraft Serial Number 131
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2100
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOM ARNOLD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 325 F. AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City CORONADO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92118
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FERNANDO RAMOS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 19361 MESA DRIVE
Operator City VILLA PARK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92861
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code GNT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GUP
Destination City GALLUP
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 31
Runway Length 5300
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --