Socorro Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Saturday, May 6, 2000 13:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot aborted the first takeoff on runway 24 because he felt that the engine was not developing power. Subsequently, he taxied the airplane to runway 15, leaned the engine for the density altitude conditions, and initiated the takeoff roll on the 5,800-foot runway. The pilot determined that the airplane wasn't developing adequate speed for takeoff, and he aborted the second takeoff. The airplane veered off the right side of runway 15 and groundlooped. Winds were reported from 210 degrees at 7 knots with a temperature of 91 degrees Fahrenheit. The density altitude was calculated as 8,000 feet. No mechanical discrepancies were reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent groundloop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SOCORRO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87801
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOCORRO MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ONM
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 4875
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8000
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 145
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1347
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6905M
NTSB Number FTW00LA139
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 108-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-3
Aircraft Serial Number 108-4905
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Sep 28 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 3500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOEL R. HENDERSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11 32ND STREET
Aircraft Owner City BATTLE CREEK
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49015
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DHT
Destination City DALHART
Destination State TX
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 15
Runway Length 5841
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --