- Date
- August 8, 2015, 09:08 local (15:08 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5982VAeros Aeros 2
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20150808014389A
- Case key
- 91789
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The ultralight airplane’s encounter with a downdraft in mountainous terrain, which resulted in a descent into trees.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot said that he and his pilot-rated passenger were flying the ultralight airplane through some canyons when they encountered a "downdraft" or mountain "rotor." Despite applying full power and placing the wing in a climb attitude, the airplane continued to descend, and it impacted trees.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 2015, at 0908 mountain daylight time, an Aeros-2, N5982V, a weight-shift ultralight aircraft, encountered a mountain rotor wind and crashed.20 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. The ultralight aircraft was substantially damaged. The ultralight aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 0727.The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he and his pilot-rated passenger had been flying near a ridgeline when they encountered a "mountain rotor wind." Control was lost and the ultralight aircraft impacted terrain. In his written statement to FAA, the pilot stated that he and his pilot-rated passenger flew through some canyons before landing on a dirt road to enjoy the views and scenery. After about 30 minutes, they took off and flew back through the canyons. The pilot stated he encountered what he thought was a downdraft or mountain rotor. Full power and a climb attitude failed to arrest the descent and the ultralight aircraft collided with trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5982V
- Reported as
- Aeros Aeros 2 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1290802
- Built
- 2008
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Guedel, Edward J
- Registered owner
- Guedel, Edward J
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · December 7, 2014
- Departed
- KAEG · Albuquerque, NM
- Destination
- KAEG · Albuquerque, NM
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Student, Sport Pilot
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 222 total · 222 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 100 total · 10 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- KAEG, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 49 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.