# NTSB DEN00LA132: Spencer Long EZE, N51EZ, Farmington, NM, July 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2000, 13:53 local (19:53 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NM - Coordinates: 36.750816, -108.180572 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7508&lon=-108.1806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49753/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA132 ## Probable cause Failure of the coolant recovery system, resulting in overheating of the engine. A factor was the soft ground on which the forced landing was made. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - cooling system - failure,total (cause) - powerplant - overtemperature - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - not activated - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - ground (contributing factor) ## Analysis When the pilot started the engine, he noticed the coolant temperature was 'slightly warm.' During taxi, coolant temperature increased. The pilot used full power for the high density altitude takeoff from runway 25. The engine overheated, the coolant recovery system failed, and steam entered the cockpit. The rear seat passenger was burned on the hip and back, thought there was a fire, and told the pilot to shut down the engine. The airplane was at an altitude of 700 feet. He secured the engine, turned the airplane around, and glided towards the airport. He declared an emergency, and was cleared to land on runway 5. A water hose broke at this time, and the steam dissipated. The airplane landed on airport property but with the nose landing gear retracted. When the airplane contacted soft dirt the main landing gear was torn off, and it skidded 200 feet, crossed a taxiway, and skidded another 200 feet before coming to a halt. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2000, at 1353 mountain daylight time, a Spencer Long EZE, N51EZ, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an emergency landing at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured, but his private pilot certificated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated just moments before the accident. The following is based on the pilot's accident report and reports from the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot and his passenger (spouse) flew from Inyokern, California, and landed at Farmington for fuel and lunch. When he started the engine for the next leg of their journey, the pilot noticed the coolant temperature was "slightly warm." During the taxi, coolant temperature increased. The pilot used full power for the high density altitude takeoff on runway 25. The engine overheated, the coolant recovery system failed, and steam entered the cockpit. The rear seat passenger was burned on the hip and back, thought there was a fire, and told the pilot to shut down the engine. The airplane was at an altitude of 700 feet. The pilot to shut down the engine, turned the airplane around, and glided towards the airport. He declared an emergency, and was cleared to land on runway 5. A water hose broke at this time and the escaping steam diminished. The airplane landed on airport property but with the nose landing gear retracted. When it contacted soft dirt, the main landing gear was torn off. The airplane skidded 200 feet, crossed a taxiway, and skidded another 200 feet before coming to a halt. There was substantial damage to the nose section, main landing gear, and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51EZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51EZ), registered now, S/N 1534, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SPENCER LONG EZE - Registry model: [Spencer Gary/Charlene LONG EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/spencer-gary-charlene-long-eze) (registry code 0569082) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1534 - Airframe hours: 1400 - Engines: Ford SVO 360 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary E. Spencer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2000, 5 hours before - Departed: FMN - Destination: FMN - Airport: FMN, Four Corners Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FMN ## 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 20000717012879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000717012879A), Jul 17, 2000: Amtr LONGEZE, Farmington, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) A long eze, N51EZ piloted by[privacy data omitted]departed rwy 25 at Farmington, NM airport at approx 1350 local time on July 17, 2000 when the engine… 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.