Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tajique, New Mexico 87057
Thursday, November 20, 1997 11:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed Albuquerque about 2100 and flew to Roswell, encountering scattered clouds at approximately 9,000 feet msl. During the return trip, while flying over the Manzano mountains, 'his engine began to sputter.' He applied full carburetor heat and turned back towards a 'small lighted town in the hopes of finding a field or road to land on.' He said that, while on final approach to a field, 'he hit a transmission wire with his left wing.' He landed the airplane but, during the landing roll, impacted a fence and a woodpile. The pilot stated that he had obtained weather briefings at the beginning of both legs of his trip. Evaluation of the weather revealed that he was flying in an area of probable carburetor icing. CAR3 (aircraft certification requirements) could not be achieved while this airplane was flying at an altitude of 11,500 feet. The engine was functionally tested, and according to the manufacturer, the engine's 'start up was immediate and the engine ran smoothly.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Factors included unsuitable terrain, and dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/20/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City TAJIQUE
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87057
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 11
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID ABQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 5352
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1605
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 21 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 759
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N714MN
NTSB Number FTW98LA054
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15079283
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 6059
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVE A. RIVERA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2028 MADEIRA DR. NE
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERQUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87110
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 ROW
Departure City ROSWELL
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AEG
Destination City ALBUQUERQUE
Destination State NM
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 --