Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Whites City, New Mexico 88268
Tuesady, March 5, 1991 10:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A 7500 FOOT MOUNTAIN AT THE 6600 FOOT LEVEL IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT FILED A DVFR FLIGHT PLAN AND INDICATED A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 6500 TO 7000 FEET. ALTOCUMULUS STANDING LENTICULAR CLOUDS WERE OBSERVED IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THIS ROUTE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE WAS KNOWN TO FLY AT LOW ALTITUDES. ACCORDING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS, THERE WERE STRONG WESTERLY WINDS AND ASSOCIATED TURBULENCE OVER THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO FLY AT LOW ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE: TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1050
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WHITES CITY
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88268
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 27
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 405
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43691
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2019V
NTSB Number DEN91FA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 58
Aircraft Series Identifier 58
Aircraft Serial Number TH-956
Certified Max Gross Weight 5400
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STIPP, ROBERT J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 601 SUNSET CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City HOBBS
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88240
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STIPP, ROBERT J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HOB
Departure City HOBBS
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MHMO
Destination City HERMOSILLO
Destination State MX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --