Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gallup, New Mexico 87301
Tuesady, September 29, 1992 18:32 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A CFI WAS CHECKING OUT A PILOT IN HIS NEWLY PURCHASED AIRPLANE ON THE FLIGHT BACK TO HIS HOME STATION. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB INTO THE RISING TERRAIN SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT 'THE GROUND OUT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE'. UNABLE TO CLIMB, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN THE FIRST OPEN AREA THAT BECAME AVAILABLE. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A FENCE POST AND A FENCE DURING LANDING ROLLOUT ON A RUTTED DIRT ROAD. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE AIRPORT WAS 8400 FEET AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEPARTURE. THE CFI HAD ONE HOUR IN THE TYPE OF AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS WERE THE RISING TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/1992
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1832
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GALLUP
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87301
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1840 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID GUP
Elevation of weather observation facility 6469
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8400
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2853
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 30 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47697
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94424
NTSB Number FTW92LA235
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 Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415-G
Aircraft Series Identifier 415-G
Aircraft Serial Number 5058
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 16 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 1240
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PORTER, MARLEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 315 EAST 14TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City TEMPLE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85281
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PORTER, MARLEY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 315 EAST 14TH STREET
Operator City TEMPLE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85281
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GUP
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1825
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FFZ
Destination City MESA
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --