- Date
- May 28, 1989, 11:02 local (17:02 UTC)
- Place
- Angel Fire, NM
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9421NPiper PA-28R-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890528013219A
- Case key
- 17715
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly evaluate the existing weather conditions and the subsequent takeoff into adverse conditions which degraded the airplane's climb capability. The pilot performed an intentional gear up landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The takeoff was made on rwy 35 with a density alt calculated to be 10,645 ft. the local winds were reported to be from 270 degrees at 25 KTS with gusts to 30 KTS. The pilot stated the wind effect on takeoff was 'notably more severe' and there was moderate turbulence. The acft gained 300 ft but the turn to crosswind resulted in altitude loss. The pilot stated he could not maintain altitude and executed an off arpt precautionary landing with the gear up. The arpt fixed base operator stated several aircraft abandoned landings and diverted to other airports due to turbulence and high wind.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9421N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-35133
- Airframe hours
- 2,037
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Troy A. Gifford, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 6, 1988 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- AXX
- Destination
- MAF · Midland, TX
- Airport
- AXX · Angel Fire, runway 35, 8,900 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,611 total · 800 in this make and model · 1,474 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.