Moriarty Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgewood, New Mexico 87015
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 14:20 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The motor glider had been soaring for approximately one-half hour when lift disappeared and it began to get into an area of significant sink. The private pilot was unable to restart the engine and attempted an emergency landing in rocky, hilly terrain. A witness saw the glider suddenly pitch down and "nose dive" into the ground from an altitude of approximately 150 feet AGL . An examination of the glider wreckage revealed damage consistent with a nose-low, nearly vertical impact.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Edgewood
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87015
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350129N
Event Location Longitude 1061405W
Event Location Airport MORIARTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0E0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 9
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6199
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1357 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 262
Weather Observation Facility ID KABQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 5355
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KABQ 161957z 0000KT 10SM FEW075 29/12 A3017.pdf
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 25291
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW Regional Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2009 3:22PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albuquerque FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N234CT
NTSB Number DFW08LA187
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 AMS Flight
Aircraft Model Carat A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CA011
Certified Max Gross Weight 1080
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 27 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 72
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sullivan Gary
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32 County Road 115
Aircraft Owner City Santa FE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87506
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Wise Arnold B
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 332 County Road 84
Operator City Espanola
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 87532
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 0E0
Departure City MORIARTY
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2009 10:47PM
User who most recently changed record latt
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --