Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tularosa, New Mexico 88352
Friday, December 29, 1989 10:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT RCVD A WX BRIEFING & WAS WARNED OF MARGINAL WX CONDS ALONG THE ROUTE. WHILE IN FLT, HE INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO IMC & ELECTED TO LAND ON A PAVED ROAD. HE RPRTD THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE 'FAILED TO SEE A HIGHWAY MARKER AT THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT' & THE ACFT'S LEFT WING TIP HIT THE MARKER & WAS DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE WX IN THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AREA WAS: 500 TO 1000 FT OVC, VIS 4 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE ROAD SIGN DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A REALTED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/29/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City TULAROSA
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88352
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1058 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID HMN
Elevation of weather observation facility 4250
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1315
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 29 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39608
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9K
NTSB Number DEN90LA037
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model 35
Aircraft Series Identifier 35
Aircraft Serial Number D19
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 15 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 7669
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRIFFIN, THOMAS E
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1803 MOUNTAIN VIEW
Aircraft Owner City ALAMOGORDO
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88310
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GRIFFIN, THOMAS E.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1803 MOUNTAINVIEW
Operator City ALAMOGORDO
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88310
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 ABO
Departure City ALBUQUERQUE
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ALM
Destination City ALAMOGORDO
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --