# NTSB CEN15CA218: Schmidt Donald L GS1 Glastar, N993S, Moriarty, NM, May 2, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 2, 2015, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Moriarty, NM
- Coordinates: 34.978054, -106 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9781&lon=-106.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91126
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA218
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91126/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91126
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA218

## Probable cause

The inadvertent encounter with a microburst while maneuvering near mountainous terrain, which resulted in a off airport landing and impact with terrain.

## 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 · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Schmidt Donald L GS1 GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05624BI), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Wind: microburst](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034050): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Schmidt Donald L GS1 GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034050/cases.md?model=05624BI), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034050/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schmidt Donald L GS1 GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05624BI), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schmidt Donald L GS1 GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05624BI), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While maneuvering in mountainous terrain about 700 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered "an extreme clear-air [sic] microburst." The pilot was unable to control the descent rate and executed an off-airport landing. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

While maneuvering in mountainous terrain about 700 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered "an extreme clear-air [sic] microburst." The pilot was unable to control the descent rate and executed an off-airport landing. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) from the pilot were unsuccessful.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N993S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N993S-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 5917, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHMIDT DONALD L GS1 GLASTAR (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Schmidt Donald L GS1 GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/schmidt-donald-l-gs1-glastar) (registry code 05624BI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d1f) (registry code 42149, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 5917
- Year built: 2008
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D1F 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Moriarty, NM
- Destination: Roswell, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 23 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: 0E0, 5 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 20150502009929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150502009929A), May 2, 2015: Schmidt Donald L GS1 GLASTAR, Moriarty, NM, Substantial damage. On may 2, 2015, at 1500 MDT an amateur built glastar GS-1 N993S impacted the ground on climb out 6 miles east of Moriarty Municipal Airport Moriarty, new…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91126. 110 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.

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