Off Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Rosa, New Mexico 88435
Friday, November 5, 2004 14:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While preparing to depart, the pilot stated that the airplane's "battery seemed weak" and noted that the ammeter was not charging or discharging. The pilot had the battery charged for 1/2 hour and elected to fly to another airport to have a mechanic examine the airplane. While en route, he noticed "the engine was running rough." The pilot checked both magnetos and noted the left magneto selection resulted in a rough engine. The fuel pressure was also low; however, the pilot felt he would be okay until arriving at his destination. The pilot stated that both magnetos began to run rough. He was unable to maintain altitude and landed on a highway. While maneuvering the airplane to avoid oncoming traffic, the airplane struck a road sign causing substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the P-lead had broken off of the right magneto. The P-lead had been rubbing against a bracket aft of the P-lead, prior to its failure. FAA inspector who examined the airplane stated that an annual inspection should have discovered this situation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Inadequate maintenance inspection which failed to detect the separation of the right P-lead, resulting in a loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/5/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Santa Rosa
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88435
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 345601N
Event Location Longitude 1043836W
Event Location Airport Off 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 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID LVS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6877
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17149
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Ctr
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 27 2005 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2695W
NTSB Number DEN05CA020
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1010
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Oct 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name On File
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Ridgecrest
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93555
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 MIO
Departure City MIAMI
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TCC
Destination City TUCUMCARI
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --