# NTSB DEN87FA121: North American T-28D, N9611C, Tatum, NM, May 10, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1987, 18:00 local (May 10, 1987, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Tatum, NM
- Coordinates: 33.250778, -103.310325 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2508&lon=-103.3103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17108/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA121

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO FRIENDS OF THE PLT, THE ACFT LEFT ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO, WITH 2 PEOPLE ABOARD AFTER AN AIRSHOW WITH A DESTINATION OF LOVINGTON, NM. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING IN THE DISTANCE AND THEN OBSERVED A BIG CLOUD OF DUST RISING FROM THE GROUND. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT HIGH SPEED AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES COULD BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9611C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9611C-1989-03-16), registration cancelled 1989-03-16, S/N 491673A (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN T-28D
- Registry model: [North American T-28A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-t-28a) (registry code 6402504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49-1673A
- Airframe hours: 2413
- Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-7613 1450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carsan Charters
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1987, 9 hours before
- Departed: ROW, ROSWELL, NM
- Destination: E06, LOVINGTON, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,574 total, 219 in this make and model, 61 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19870509017499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870509017499A), May 9, 1987: Namer T28A, Tatum, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Dove into the ground from a low altitude. Was in an air force acrobatic area. No mechanical problems found.

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.