Artesia Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Artesia, New Mexico 88210
Tuesady, August 15, 2000 10:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During initial climb following takeoff, the aircraft swerved right. Neither pilot was successful in correcting the swerve and the aircraft impacted the ground 150 feet right of the runway. Wind at the time was 10 degrees right of the runway at seven knots. An examination of the aircraft by an FAA airworthiness inspector following the accident reveled no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure by the pilot in command to maintain control of the aircraft during initial climb following takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ARTESIA
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88210
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ARTESIA MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ATS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3548
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID ATS
Elevation of weather observation facility 3548
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
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) 7100
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) 300
NTSB Notification Source ALBUQUERQUE FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1052
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N494R
NTSB Number DEN00LA152
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 ROSENBARGER
Aircraft Model LANCAIR IV
Aircraft Series Identifier LANCAIR IV
Aircraft Serial Number LIV172
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 19 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 60
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES P. JOHNS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 929
Aircraft Owner City ROSWELL
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88202
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ATS
Departure City ARTESIA
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ROW
Destination City ROSWELL
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 5399
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --