# NTSB CEN11TA064: Partenavia P.68, N44956, Anthony, NM, November 10, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: November 10, 2010, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Anthony, NM - Coordinates: 32.00111, -106.507225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0011&lon=-106.5072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 77772 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11TA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77772/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77772 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11TA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to conduct a low-level flight in mountainous terrain in an area where downdrafts were prevalent, resulting in the inadvertent loss of control and the collision with the terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Partenavia P 68 OBSERVER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=6780103), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Partenavia P 68 OBSERVER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=6780103), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Partenavia P 68 OBSERVER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=6780103), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Partenavia P 68 OBSERVER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=6780103), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Partenavia P 68 OBSERVER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=6780103), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis While performing a low-level law enforcement patrol flight, the pilot crossed a ridge and observed a parked vehicle. To investigate further, he lowered the flaps and descended to approximately 200 feet, into a canyon. The pilot made a second pass over the vehicle and initiated a right turn, during which the airplane encountered a tailwind that resulted in a rapid loss of airspeed and a descent. The pilot leveled the airplane and increased the power; however, the airplane was too slow and low to turn out of the canyon. As a result, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The pilot stated there were no preflight mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2010, approximately 1200 mountain standard time, a Partenavia P.68, N44956, registered to and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, Texas, was destroyed when it encountered a downdraft and impacted terrain near Anthony, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers on board the airplane sustained minor injuries. The public use flight originated at El Paso (ELP), Texas, at 1015 and was destined to return to ELP. According to the pilot's accident report, he crossed the southern ridge of the Anthony Gap and observed a parked vehicle. To investigate further, the pilot lowered the flaps and descended to approximately 200 feet. There was a ridge approximately the same elevation as the flight path. On the other side of the mountain, winds were from the south approximately 10 to 15 knots. The pilot made a second pass over the vehicle at 200 feet and initiated a right turn. At that same moment, he encountered a tailwind that resulted in a rapid loss of airspeed and the airplane descended. The pilot leveled his wings and increased power. The airplane was too slow and low to turn out of the canyon. The pilot tried to cross over a saddle ridge but was too low. The left main gear struck the ridge and was torn off. The pilot rolled the wings to match the terrain but the nose dropped. The airplane buffeted and the stall warning sounded. The airplane struck the terrain and slid to a stop. The pilot said the unanticipated downdraft could not have been foreseen. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44956](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44956-2011-07-06), registration cancelled 2011-07-06, S/N 318-13/OB (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PARTENAVIA P.68 - Registry model: [Partenavia P 68 OBSERVER](https://openairdocs.org/model/partenavia-p-68-observer) (registry code 6780103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 318-13/OB - Airframe hours: 7065 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Registered owner: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2010, 6 hours before - Departed: ELP, El Paso, TX - Destination: ELP, El Paso, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; military, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,562 total, 106 in this make and model, 2,767 as pilot in command, 136 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 16 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20101110051469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101110051469A), Nov 10, 2010: Partenavia P 68 OBSERV, El Paso, TX, Destroyed. On November 10, 2010 at 1100 MST, N44956, a Partenavia P68 observer, crashed in mountainous terrain near El Paso, Texas. The commercial pilot and two crew… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77772. 5.2 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 922 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - NTSB Photographs - CEN11TA064 (item 3, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Photographs%20-%20CEN11TA064-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.