# NTSB CEN13LA299: Peck Norman O Peck P-1, N16NM, Aztec, NM, May 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2013, 11:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Aztec, NM - Coordinates: 36.835556, -108.023887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8356&lon=-108.0239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87015/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87015 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA299 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident fire damage precluded a complete examination of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Peck Norman O PECK P-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05604ET), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Peck Norman O PECK P-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05604ET), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Peck Norman O PECK P-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05604ET), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Peck Norman O PECK P-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05604ET), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Peck Norman O PECK P-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=05604ET), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a personal flight in the amateur-built airplane. A witness reported that he saw the pilot start up the airplane and take off. Just after becoming airborne, the airplane impacted a berm on the right side of the runway, spun 180 degrees, and then came to rest. A postcrash fire ensued, which consumed a majority of the airplane. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; however, a complete examination could not be conducted due to extensive fire damage. The left side of the engine did exhibit more fire damage than other areas, which may indicate that a fuel leak occurred or that the fire started at that location from another source. Further, someone who knew the pilot reported that, after the previous flight, the pilot had indicated that fuel had pooled on the cockpit floor. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot becoming distracted during takeoff, possibly by a fuel leak or onboard fire; however, neither scenario could be verified. Therefore, the reason that the pilot did not maintain airplane control during takeoff could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2013, about 1050 mountain daylight time, an amateur built Peck P-1 airplane, N16NM, was destroyed after it impacted the ground during takeoff from Aztec Municipal Airport (N16), Aztec, New Mexico. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. 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 and the flight was being conducted without a flight plan. The flight was departing at the time of the accident. A witness to the accident stated that he saw the pilot start up the airplane and takeoff on runway 26. Just after becoming airborne, the airplane impacted a berm on the right side of the runway, spun 180 degrees, and was engulfed in fire. A person who knew the pilot provided information that indicated that the pilot had purchased the airplane about 6 months prior to the accident. He also stated that the pilot had complained about 7-10 days prior to the accident that fuel had been pooling on the floor of the cockpit. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The cause of death was determined to be inhalation of products of combustion and thermal injuries. Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Diphenhydramine was detected in urine samples. Diphenhydramine was not detected in blood samples. At 1153 MDT, the weather station at Farmington, New Mexico (FMN), located 11 miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 240 at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 10,000 ft, temperature 69 degrees F, dew point 25 degrees F, and altimeter setting 29.99 inches of mercury. The 62 year old pilot held a private pilot certificate (airplane, single-engine land). He reported 2,500 total hours and 50 hours in the last six months on his last application for a medical certificate. He was last issued a Class-3 medical certificate on June 29, 2012. No pilot logbooks were located during the course of the investigation. The airplane impacted a berm on the right side of runway 26, turned 180 degrees and came to rest. Fire consumed the majority of the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage and determined there was more fire damage to the left side of the engine, but he could not determine if there was a fuel leak there due to the fire damage. He did not identify any pre-impact anomalies with the engine or flight controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16NM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16NM-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PECK NORMAN O PECK P-1 - Registry model: [Peck Norman O PECK P-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/peck-norman-o-peck-p-1) (registry code 05604ET) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: N19, Aztec, NM - Destination: N19, Aztec, NM - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: N19, Aztec Municipal Airport, runway 26, 4,314 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,500 total, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KFMN, 11 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 20130518015059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130518015059A), May 18, 2013: Peck Norman O PECK P-1, Aztec, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed runway 26 at Aztec, NM at approximately 1145 MDT for a local flight. Winds at the time of departure were estimated at 220 degrees gusting to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87015. 327 KB in all. - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.