Sierra Blanca Reg Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345
Thursday, December 30, 1999 12:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that shortly after takeoff, the engine 'started cutting out and was not developing enough power to maintain altitude.' The pilot made a shallow right turn and landed on a new crosswind runway which was still under construction. The runway was covered with snow, and shortly after touchdown the 'motor caught and I became airborne again.' During the second landing, the airplane impacted foot high gravel piles, and nosed over. The pilot said that he had been getting 'some water' from his fuel tank sump checks over the previous two months.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to perform an adequate preflight, and the subsequent partial power loss as a result of water contamination in the fuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City RUIDOSO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88345
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SIERRA BLANCA REG AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SRR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6811
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1210 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SRR
Elevation of weather observation facility 6811
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 7844
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) 1391
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 30 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1190D
NTSB Number DEN00LA034
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 Price
Aircraft Model GLASAIR 1-RG
Aircraft Series Identifier GLASAIR 1-
Aircraft Serial Number 579
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 9 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 899
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OMER D. PRICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1500 DORRANCE RD.
Aircraft Owner City SAN ANGELO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76904
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code SRR
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --