Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bernal, New Mexico 87560
Sunday, January 28, 1996 15:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight at 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level on a cross-country flight, severe turbulence was encountered, and according to the pilot, he was unable to maintain altitude. Subsequently, the airplane collided with trees in mountainous terrain. The pilot walked approximately three miles to the nearest highway. Reportedly, he had received a weather briefing before departure, which provided information that high winds and moderate to severe turbulence could be expected along his entire route of flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper planning/decision, including his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from mountainous terrain to compensate for altitude deviations that resulted from mountain wave/wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the weather/wind conditions, and the proximity of mountainous terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BERNAL
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87560
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 35
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 45
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 461
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1923
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:46AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N69808
NTSB Number FTW96LA107
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 BOEING
Aircraft Model B75N1
Aircraft Series Identifier B75N1
Aircraft Serial Number 75-2674
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 May 20 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 4417
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRANS MOUNTAIN AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17696 E. PROGRESS DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City AURORA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TRANS MOUNTAIN AIR, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 17696 E. PROGRESS DRIVE
Operator City AURORA
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80015
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 LVS
Departure City LAS VEGAS
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAF
Destination City SANTA FE
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
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 --