# NTSB CEN13LA273: Phillips Zenith 250, N250ZP, Taos, NM, May 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2013, 13:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Taos, NM - Coordinates: 36.447498, -105.639724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4475&lon=-105.6397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86874/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86874 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA273 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to take off in gusting wind conditions and the airplane’s loss of climb performance following an encounter with turbulence and downdrafts. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0564968), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=0564968), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=0564968), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0564968), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=0564968), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=0564968), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he waited to depart until after a storm cloud passed the airfield from the northwest. Just before takeoff, the pilot obtained the automated weather observing system information, which reported wind from 120 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 22 knots. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from runway 04, the airplane stopped climbing and descended when it encountered "turbulent crosswinds and downdrafts." The pilot turned the airplane, but it still would not climb and continued to encounter downdrafts and turbulence as it approached rising terrain, obstacles, and the storm clouds. The pilot turned the airplane again, but it continued to descend and then impacted a landfill. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Although the reported wind was within the capabilities of the airplane, given the high gusts and recent storm, the pilot should have waited for the wind to subside before taking off. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2013, at 1335 mountain daylight time, a Phillips Zenith 250, N250ZP, collided with terrain after departing Taos Regional Airport (SKX), Taos, New Mexico. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. According to the written statement submitted by the pilot, he elected to take off on runway 04, and the takeoff and climb out were normal until the airplane reached about 300 feet above the ground. At that point "the climb stopped as I experienced turbulent crosswinds and downdrafts." The pilot turned the airplane into the anticipated headwind, but the airplane did not climb as it approached rising terrain and obstacles. The pilot made an additional turn to avoid the obstacles. The airplane continued to descended into a landfill and hit a mulch pile. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine prior to impact, and that he thought the conditions were within the capabilities of the airplane. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for SKX, issued at 1335 reported wind 130 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky condition few clouds at 5,000 feet, broken clouds at 6,500 feet, over cast skies at 9,000 feet, temperature 14 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint minus 02 degrees C, and altimeter 30.24 inches. The pilot stated a storm cloud had recently passed the airfield from the northwest and that winds were 120 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 22 knots when he departed the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N250ZP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N250ZP-2014-09-04), registration cancelled 2014-09-04, S/N 125-A, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PHILLIPS Zenith 250 - Registry model: [Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250](https://openairdocs.org/model/phillips-robert-l-zenith-250) (registry code 0564968) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 125-A - Airframe hours: 2736 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Levy Michael T - Registered owner: Levy Michael T - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2013 - Departed: SKX, Taos, NM - Destination: SAF, Santa Fe, NM - Airport: SKX, Taos Rgnl, runway 04, 5,803 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,130 total, 654 in this make and model, 1,040 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KSKX, 2 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 20130510008439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130510008439A), May 10, 2013: Phillips Robert L ZENITH 250, Taos, NM, Substantial damage. On 05/10/2013, at 1335 MST, a robert Phillips, zenith 250, impacted the ground, approximatly .5 mile east of Taos Regional Airport (kskx), Taos new Mexico on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86874. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - 17- GPS Factual Report CEN13LA273 (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399900&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=17-%20GPS%20Factual%20Report%20CEN13LA273-Master.PDF - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data to 17 GPS Factual Report - CSV (item 3, .CSV, 3 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400087&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20Tabular%20Data%20to%2017%20GPS%20Factual%20Report%20-%20CSV-Master.csv 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.