Meown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Silver City, New Mexico 88061
Friday, August 17, 1990 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED TAKING OFF FROM A GRAVEL RUNWAY ON A MOUNTAIN MESA, WITH CALM WINDS. THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,600 FEET. THE PILOT SAID SHE LIFTED OFF AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, DIVED THE PLANE INTO A CANYON TO GAIN AIRSPEED, TURNED AND FLEW BACK OVER THE AIR STRIP AT 50 FEET AGL. AFTER FLYING SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS, CONSTANTLY LOSING ALTITUDE, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN JUNIPER BRUSH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN A FLIGHT IN CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SILVER CITY
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88061
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MEOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1E0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 7554
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 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 10600
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 17 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42698
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3648V
NTSB Number DEN90LA171
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 140
Aircraft Series Identifier 140
Aircraft Serial Number 14919
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HARRY & LINDA PECOTTE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1606 WEST 6TH ST.
Operator City SILVER CITY
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88061
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 1200
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --