Questa Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Questa, New Mexico 87556
Thursday, September 29, 1988 13:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PLT AND 1 PAX WERE TAKING OFF USING 2,500 FT OF A 4,000 X 50 FT DIRT STRIP WITH A D/A OF 9,200 FT. DURING INTIAL CLIMB THE PLT NOTICED A SINK RATE. THE PLT SAID HE VARIED THE ANGLE OF FLAPS FROM 5 TO 25 DEG 'IN SEARCH OF LIFT.' THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A RIDGE 350 FT FROM THE POINT OF LIFTOFF. THE ACFT PIVOTED RIGHT AND CAME TO REST 35 FT FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT. THE FUSELAGE WAS BENT AND BOTH WINGS WERE FLEXED UPWARD. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE FOUND A QUANTITY (LESS THAN AN OUNCE) OF MARIJUANA IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REFUSED TO SUBMIT TO A DRUG TEST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City QUESTA
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87556
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport QUESTA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 7500
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 20000
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) 80
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 9200
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1438
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 29 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1549
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37563
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8517B
NTSB Number DEN88LA209
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 36217
Certified Max Gross Weight 2075
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 1 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 200
Airframe Hours 7030
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ABBOTT, CHARLES B
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 265
Aircraft Owner City LA MESA
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88044
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ABBOTT, CHARLES B.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 1 BOX 265
Operator City LA MESA
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88044
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 SKI
Departure City TAOS
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code E91
Destination City EAGLE NEST
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 4000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --