Los Alamos Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
Sunday, December 8, 2013 8:10 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger were on a cross-country flight and stopped at an en route airport. After waiting for weather to improve, they took off to the west. A witness reported seeing the airplane depart the runway and then enter a steep left turn, before descending and impacting terrain. The airport directory noted that all landings are to the west, and all takeoffs to the east. A commuter pilot reported that the accident pilot asked him if east takeoffs and west landings were mandatory. The commuter pilot responded that he believed it was but that the commuter crew had permission from the airport manager to depart to the west, if needed. The commuter pilot added that if they departed to the west, they would make a turn before the terminal building. The automated weather reporting station, located on the field recorded about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind from 270 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 23 knots. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact abnormality with the engine or airframe.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering after takeoff in gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/8/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 810
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Los Alamos
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87544
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355239N
Event Location Longitude 1061609W
Event Location Airport Los Alamos Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KLAM
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 180
Airport Elevation 7171
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 815 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KLAM
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.78
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) 33379
NTSB Notification Source ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2014 8:51AM
User who most recently changed record hatc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80MF
NTSB Number CEN14FA077
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC
Aircraft Model A-1C-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3156
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BLACKHAWK LEASING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HARMONY
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 559395010
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BLACKHAWK LEASING LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HARMONY
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 559395010
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 KLAM
Departure City Los Alamos
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 810
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Chandler
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2014 8:51AM
User who most recently changed record hatc
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --