Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Angel Fire, New Mexico 87710
Saturday, March 19, 1988 15:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT COULD NOT OUTCLIMB RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH TREES/TERRAIN. EXAM OF WRECKAGE DISCLOSED FOULED PLUGS FROM RICH MIXTURE AND LOW CYL COMPRESSION. EXAM OF AIRPORT INFO DID NOT DESCRIBE TOPOGRAPHY HAZARDS. PILOT INFORMATION INDICATED A LACK OF HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT OPERATIONS,MOUNTAIN TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY WAS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE FIRST CLIMB SEGMENT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS ABOUT 8,500 FEET.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/19/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ANGEL FIRE
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87710
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 217
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 19 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35835
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3254Z
NTSB Number DEN88FA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-7202
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Jul 16 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 3438
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN D. RIDDLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1115 GIDDING
Aircraft Owner City CLOVIS
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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 AXX
Departure City ANGEL FIRE
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CLOVIS
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --