20010824028629A

(.19) On August 24, 2001, approximately 1930 MDT, a north American SNJ-5, N2686D, registered to and operated by snj aviation adventures LLC, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering 1/2 mile north of Raton municipal airport, Raton, new Mexico. The airline transport certificated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under title 14 CFR part 91. The flight originated at Raton approximately 1925. Witnesses said the airplane approached the airport in a slight nose down attitude to gain speed approximately 1,000 feet AGL. It then pulled up "to do a loop," slightly past vertical, trailing smoke. A fellow pilot called the pilot and asked him if everything was all right. The pilot replied, "my engine just quit." The airplane was seen to hesitate momentarily, then slide back on its tail and wing over in recovery from a hammerhead stall. The aircraft then assumed a slightly nose high attitude, snap rolled, and entered a spin before disappearing from sight. The on-scene examination revealed the airplane struck the ground in a left wing low attitude, cartwheeled, and burned. (-23) on 08/24/2001, approximately 1946 mountain daylight time, a north American model SNJ-5, N2686D, owned by snj aviation adventures, 4 puesta del sol, placitas, NM 87403, and operated by Mr. Minor a. "scoop" smith, was destroyed after it impacted terrain approximately 1 mile northeast of the Raton, NM (rtn) airport. The pilot-in-command, holds an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane, single & multiengine, land rating(s). The pilot and his passenger were fatally injured in the crash and post crash fire that consumed the airframe. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local pleasure flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The flight originated from Raton, NM, approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident. Witnesses stated the aircraft approached the east side of the airport from south ot north. At midfield, the aircraft pitched down to build speed and entered a loop at approximately 1,000 feet AGL. During the second quarter of the loop (slightly past vertical) the engine began to trail smoke. The aircraft pitched forward to vertical, and ent ered a loop at approximately 1,000 feet AGL. During the second quarter of the loop (slightly past vertical) the engine began to trail smoke. The aircraft pitched forward to vertical, and entered a hammerhead turn to recover from the loop. As the recovery progressed, the aircraft turned eastbound and the pitch attitude increased to a slightly nose-high position between 250 and 400 feet AGL. The aircraft began a turn to the left, and then rolled to the left in what has been described as a spin entry. The aircraft crashed in a left wing, and nose, down attitude. (.4) on August 24, 2001, approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a north American snj-t, N2686D, registered to and operated by snj aviation adventures LLC, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while in an uncontrolled descent 1/2-mile north of the Raton municipal airport, Raton, new Mexico. The airline transport certificated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under title 14 CFR (code of federal regulations) part 91. The flight originated at Raton approximately 1 925. (See NTSB #DEN01FA152 for complete narrative.)