# NTSB DEN88LA015: Piper PA-24-260C, N9375P, Timberon, NM, October 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1987, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Timberon, NM
- Coordinates: 32.809631, -105.990646 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8096&lon=-105.9906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17410
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17410/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA015

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON TAKEOFF WITH A 10 TO 15 KNOT TAILWIND AND 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS, A 20 DEGREE TURN WAS ATTEMPTED AT 60 FEET AGL. THE PILOT STATED A DOWNDRAFT FORCED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A WOODPILE AND SEVERAL SMALL TREES.POST-CRASH FIRE DESTROYED MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9375P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9375P-1995-01-31), registration cancelled 1995-01-31, S/N 244875 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260C
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4875
- Airframe hours: 4848
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Blesius, Cornelius
- Registered owner: Blesius, Cornelius K.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1987
- Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Airport: 52E, Timberon, runway 13, 4,980 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,631 total, 131 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19871025060629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871025060629A), Oct 25, 1987: Piper PA24260, Alamogordo, NM, Destroyed. Tailwind on takeoff. Had a severe downdraft off airport landing. Struck a wood pile. Ground looped post fire.

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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