# NTSB DEN03LA140: Cessna 337F, N8921M, Las Cruces, NM, August 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2003, 06:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM - Coordinates: 32.284442, -106.917503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2844&lon=-106.9175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57651/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA140 ## Probable cause Lack of adequate power from the rear engine for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during take-off. A contributing factor to the accident was the low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing. After touchdown, the pilot said he retracted the flaps, added full power to both engines and "observed 75 mph" on the airspeed indicator. He "lifted the nose wheel" and the airplane nose pitched up "suddenly" and became airborne. The pilot said he attempted to maintain runway alignment. The airplane veered left and impacted the ground, coming to rest between runway 04-22 and taxiway delta, and causing substantial damage to the wings, right vertical stabilizer and undercarriage. The pilot said the airplane "failed to stay airborne [due to]insufficient power" from the rear engine. The engines were examined at the manufacturer. Both engines experienced normal starts on the first attempts and were run through throttle settings of 1,200, 1,600, 2,450, and 2,800 RPM (full throttle). The engines were then cycled from idle power (650 RPM) to full power, 6 times in succession. In each cycle, the engine "performed normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power." No other anomalies were found in any of the other airplane systems. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2003, approximately 0645 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 337F, N8921M, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during take-off at Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The planned cross-country flight to El Paso, Texas, was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight originated from Las Cruces, New Mexico, at 0630 . According to the pilot, he was performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 12. After touchdown, he retracted the flaps, added full power to both engines and "observed 75 mph" on the airspeed indicator. He "lifted the nose wheel" and the airplane pitched up "suddenly" and became airborne. The pilot attempted to maintain runway alignment. The airplane veered left and settled to the ground, coming to rest between runway 04-22 and taxiway Delta. The pilot said the airplane "failed to stay airborne [due to] insufficient power" from the rear engine. An examination of the airplane at the accident site showed the left wing bent down approximately 3 feet inboard from the wing tip. The right wing was bent upward approximately 2 feet inboard from the wing tip. The bottom portion of the right vertical stabilizer was crushed upward and aft, and the main landing gear were broken aft. The engines were examined at the manufacturer on March 15-16, 2004. Both engines experienced normal starts on the first attempts and were run through throttle settings of 1,200, 1,600, 2,450, and 2,800 RPM (full throttle). The engines were then cycled from idle power (650 RPM) to full power, 6 times in succession. In each cycle, the engine "performed normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power." No other anomalies were found in any of the other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8921M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8921M-2005-02-04), registration cancelled 2005-02-04, S/N 33701321, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 337F - Registry model: [Cessna 337F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337f) (registry code 2075725) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33701321 - Airframe hours: 3824 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating; Teledyne Continental IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Morris Newton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2003, 3 hours before - Departed: LRU, LAS CRUCES, NM - Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX - Airport: LRU, Las Cruces International, runway 12, 7,499 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 29, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: LRU, 1 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 20030806018919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030806018919A), Aug 6, 2003: Cessna 337F, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 6, 2003, at 0645 MDT, a Cessna 337F, N8921M, registered to adventure leasing, struck the ground shortly after takeoff while performing touch… 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.