Las Cruces International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
Friday, March 24, 2000 10:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that shortly after he took off from runway 26, he felt the engine was not developing enough power, so he made a 180 degree turn and landed on runway 8 with an estimated tailwind velocity of 5 knots. He said he failed to maintain directional control and the airplane skidded to the left and off the runway, bending the right rear spar. The engine was later disassembled and examined. The no. 6 intake valve was found burnt and was not seating properly. The mechanic told the pilot this condition would account for the loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. Factors were a burnt and unseated intake valve, and the tail wind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/24/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City LAS CRUCES
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88005
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAS CRUCES INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LRU
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 4456
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 115
NTSB Notification Source ABQ FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N442C
NTSB Number DEN00LA068
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 Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-2
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-2
Aircraft Serial Number 108-3442
Certified Max Gross Weight 2230
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 27 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 79
Airframe Hours 2231
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAUL E. JOHNSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2, BOX 211
Aircraft Owner City DEMING
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 22065 TOWAS, S.E.
Operator City DEMING
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88030
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 LRU
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LRU
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 6073
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --