# NTSB CEN13CA494: Globe GC-1B, N7BR, Santa Teresa, NM, August 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2013, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Santa Teresa, NM - Coordinates: 31.880277, -106.703056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8803&lon=-106.7031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 87806 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA494 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87806/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87806 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA494 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the final approach due to an inadvertent encounter with a dust devil ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on final approach, the pilot had the airplane lined up with the runway's extended centerline. The pilot reported that the approach was uneventful until the airplane encountered a dust devil which resulted in the airplane turning 90 degrees to the left. He attempted to turn the airplane back towards the runway but was unsuccessful. The airplane descended and impacted terrain short of the runway. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative While on final approach, the pilot had the airplane lined up with the runway's extended centerline. The pilot reported that the approach was uneventful until the airplane encountered a dust devil which resulted in the airplane turning 90 degrees to the left. He attempted to turn the airplane back towards the runway but was unsuccessful. The airplane descended and impacted terrain short of the runway. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7BR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: GLOBE GC-1B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1416 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lawrence Owen - Registered owner: Lawrence and Deborah Owen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 5T6, Santa Teresa, NM - Destination: 5T6, Santa Teresa, NM - Airport: 5T6, Dona Ana County Airport, runway 10, 9,550 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 250 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KELP, 17 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 20130818016239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130818016239A), Aug 18, 2013: Globe GC-1B, Santa Teresa, NM, Substantial damage. On September 18, 2013 at 1630 MDT, a Globe swift, N7BR, registered to the pilot, received substantial damage after a dust devil forced the aircraft to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87806. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.