Dona Ana County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Teresa, New Mexico 88008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot began a normal approach to runway 28 at his intended destination airport and stated that he had a large crosswind correction because of strong winds from the southwest. The airspeed was indicating between 60 and 70 miles per hour and no flaps were used. The pilot touched down on the main gear slightly to the right of the runway centerline and in good alignment with plenty of runway remaining. The pilot then decided due to the strong winds to attempt a go-around and applied power. According to the pilot's statement, a gust of wind brought the left wing up and the aircraft right wing appeared to be scraping the runway. The aircraft began to turn to the right and went off the north side of the runway at about 90 degrees from the runway heading. The airplane then went through a dried creek bed 10 to 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide approximately 100 feet north of the runway. The nose hit the north rim of the creek bed and the aircraft flipped and came to rest inverted facing to the west. The pilot was able to egress unassisted and sustained only minor injuries. Winds were reported at the time of the accident as 14 knots with gusts to 28 knots from 250 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the strong gusty crosswinds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/23/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Santa Teresa
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88008
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 315235N
Event Location Longitude 1064131W
Event Location Airport Dona Ana County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5T6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4112
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KELP
Elevation of weather observation facility 958
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 28
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23609
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center, FT
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1588P
NTSB Number DFW08CA113
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-3751
Certified Max Gross Weight 1760
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2307
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name War Eagles Air Museum
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8012 Airport Road
Aircraft Owner City Santa Teresa
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88008
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name War Eagles Air Museum
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8012 Airport Road
Operator City Santa Teresa
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 88008
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 --
Departure City MacGuire Ranch
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 5T6
Destination City Santa Teresa
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 6 2008 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 8500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --