Moriarty Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moriarty, New Mexico 87035
Friday, September 15, 2000 15:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he landed on runway 8 into a 5 to 8 knot crosswind from the southeast. His airspeed was 'a little fast and [he] dropped the airplane hard on the runway.' It bounced, settled back onto the runway, then veered sharply to the left. Despite full right rudder input, the airplane exited the runway, ground looped to the left, and slid sideways, collapsing the right main landing gear. According to an FAA inspector who examined the accident site, the pilot landed on runway 26.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot prematurely flaring the airplane, resulting in a hard landing, and causing a loss of directional control. Factors were excessive airspeed and the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MORIARTY
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87035
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MORIARTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0E0
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 6199
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1530 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 255
Weather Observation Facility ID CQC
Elevation of weather observation facility 7092
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9456
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) 621
NTSB Notification Source FAA SW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 15 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2125
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 21 2001 4:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1036G
NTSB Number DEN00LA171
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 Taylorcraft
Aircraft Model 20
Aircraft Series Identifier 20
Aircraft Serial Number 20-036
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 May 8 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 747
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEWIS E. WITT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9052 POOR MOUNTAIN RD.
Aircraft Owner City BENT MOUNTAIN
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24059
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 No
Departure Airport Code GCN
Departure City GRAND CANYON
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 0E0
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 21 2001 4:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 7700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --