Alexander Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belen, New Mexico 87002
Thursday, March 1, 2012 5:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental airplane collided with power lines shortly after takeoff and before sunrise. No distress calls from the pilot were reported, and no one witnessed the accident. The airplane was severely fragmented, and the debris path extended over 900 feet beyond the initial contact with the power lines consistent with a high-velocity impact. Examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Two occupants were on board the airplane, the pilot and the pilot-rated owner of the airplane. Witnesses reported that the pilot and pilot-rated passenger flew together because the pilot-rated passenger did not have a valid medical certificate. The pilot’s most recent medical certificate had the following restrictions: “must wear corrective lenses” and “limited to daytime flight only” due to color vision limitations. The investigation revealed that the power lines were barely visible on the horizon in the desertlike terrain during daylight hours. Although it could not be determined whether the pilot or the pilot-rated passenger was at the controls at the time of the accident, it is likely that the flight’s conduct before sunrise and the pilot’s restriction for daytime flight only due to color vision limitations made the identification of the power lines more difficult.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane during the hours of darkness when he had a restriction for daytime flight only due to color vision limitations.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/1/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 535
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Belen
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87002
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343822N
Event Location Longitude 1065150E
Event Location Airport Alexander Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E80
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 270
Airport Elevation 5194
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 530 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33049
NTSB Notification Source New Mexico State Police
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 7 2014 9:07PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N273TE
NTSB Number CEN12FA174
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HEMP TIMOTHY
Aircraft Model LEGACY 2000
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number L2K164
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jul 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 154
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WESTBROOK GEORGE J
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6305 SONRISA PL NE
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERQUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87113-2833
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WESTBROOK GEORGE J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 6305 SONRISA PL NE
Operator City ALBUQUERQUE
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 87113-2833
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code E80
Departure City Belen
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 534
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FFZ
Destination City Mesa
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 7 2014 9:41PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --