# NTSB DEN89FA045: Piper PA-24-250, N751SP, Elephant Butte, NM, December 21, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1988, 10:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Elephant Butte, NM
- Coordinates: 33.175228, -107.22495 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1752&lon=-107.2250&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17574
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17574/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA045

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A RETURN FLIGHT FROM HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE ACFT THE PLT EXECUTED A LOW PASS BY HIS HOME WHICH WAS LOCATED ON A POINT OF LAND OVERLOOKING ELEPHANT BUTTE RESERVOIR, NM. DURING THE MANEUVER WHILE IN A STEEP TURN THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE WATER AND SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT CARTWHEELED AND SANK. WX AT THE TIME WAS VMC WITH THE WATER SURFACE SMOOTH AND GLASSY. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THIS MANEUVER WAS COMMONLY PERFORMED BY THE PLT ON RETURNING HOME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N751SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N751SP-1989-06-07), registration cancelled 1989-06-07, S/N 242700 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-2700
- Airframe hours: 3784
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Elephant Butte Resort Marina
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 1988, 18 hours before
- Departed: 0NM, SOCORRO, NM
- Destination: TCS, TRUTH OR CONSEQ, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 628 total, 600 in this make and model, 588 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TCS, 6 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 19881221057319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881221057319A), Dec 21, 1988: Piper PA24250, Truth Or Conseq, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. While circling low over water near pilots home a wing hit the water. Aircraft cartwheeled broke up and sank.

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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