20191020020289A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24 · Angel Fire, NM · October 20, 2019

Date: October 20, 2019 · 08:55 local
Place: Angel Fire, NM
Airport: Colfax County Airport, Angel F
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7742P
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR20FA008
Reported as: Piper PA-24
Reported engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N7742PRegistration cancelled Jan 17, 2020 · Piper PA-24S/N 24-2956 · Built 1961 Airframe modelPiper PA-24 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On October 20, 2019, at 0848 MDT, a 1961 Piper PA-24, N7742P registered to richard j. schenk, crashed after departing Angel Fire airport (axx), Angel Fire, new Mexico, in the village of Angel Fire, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the certified private pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

As the FAA filed it

ON OCTOBER 20, 2019, AT 0848 MDT, A 1961 PIPER PA-24, N7742P REGISTERED TO RICHARD J. SCHENK, CRASHED AFTER DEPARTING ANGEL FIRE AIRPORT (AXX), ANGEL FIRE, NEW MEXICO, IN THE VILLAGE OF ANGEL FIRE, WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE CERTIFIED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR20FA008Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAngel Fire, NMThe airplane’s degraded performance due to high-density altitude and gusting wind conditions, which resulted in its inability to maintain altitude during the initial takeoff climb. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience with high…Oct 20, 2019 · Substantial damage