# Accident 20141124020449A: Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV-3, Las Cruces, NM, November 24, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 2014, 12:45 local time
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Airport: Las Cruces International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.3096° N, 107.0610° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3096&lon=-107.0610&mi=10
- Aircraft: N625ZH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N625ZH-2016-01-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV-3 (registry code 05604CJ, https://openairdocs.org/model/ross-h-herriott-m-vans-aircraft-rv-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROSS H/HERRIOTT M VANS AIRCRAFT RV-3
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 4 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141124020449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WITNESSES STATED AFTER LIFT-OFF A STEEP ANGLE OF CLIMB WAS INITIATED TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET, FOLLOWED BY A LEFT 60 TO 90 DEGREE BANK TURNING CROSSWIND, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LEFT 60 TO 90 DEGREE BANK TURN TO DOWNWIND. AFTER THE SECOND TURN, THE LEFT WING DROPPED, THE AIRCRAFT SPUN LEFT IMPACTING THE GROUND AT A VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT AND SOLE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN15LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA059), Nov 24, 2014: Ross H/Herriott M Vans Aircraft RV 3 (N625ZH), Las Cruces, NM, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain adequate familiarization in the accident airplane type…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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