Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chama, New Mexico 87520
Monday, July 28, 1997 11:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was on a cross-country flight, operating on a VFR flight plan. According to radar data, the airplane was following the apparent area of a highway and railroad track over mountainous terrain near Cumbres Pass. The highway went over the pass at 10,200 feet msl. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the side of a mountain at an elevation of about 10,000 feet, approximately 1/2 mile from the top of the pass. The surrounding mountains were higher than the elevation of the crash site. There was evidence the pilot had entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). A railroad maintenance crew, working at the top of Cumbres Pass during the morning of the accident, noted low clouds and rain during the entire time, and reported the visibility was less than 1/4 mile at the pass.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude and/or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the low ceiling, rain, fog, and high/mountainous terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CHAMA
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87520
Event Date Year 1997
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1252 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID ALS
Elevation of weather observation facility 7535
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9500
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1306
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57JD
NTSB Number FTW97FA286
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 DURBIN
Aircraft Model GLASAIR R
Aircraft Series Identifier GLASAIR R
Aircraft Serial Number 625
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Aug 31 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 503
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN R. DURBIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 545 W RANDALL
Aircraft Owner City RIALTO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92376
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 GCN
Departure City GRAND CANYON
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1024
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OSH
Destination City OSHKOSH
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --