# NTSB DEN90FA184: Morane-Saulnier MS760, N23ST, Albuquerque, NM, September 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1990, 04:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17847/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA184

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, PILOT FATIGUE, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN NIGHT FLYING OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT, A HEART TRANSPLANT SURGEON, WAS ADVISED OF A DONOR IN LAS CRUCES, NM. HE AND A PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT WERE TO FLY TO LAS CRUCES, RETRIEVE THE DONOR HEART, AND RETURN TO ALBUQUERQUE, WHERE THE TRANSPLANT WAS TO BE PERFORMED. THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING (VMC WAS FORECAST) AND FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. HE FUELED THE JET AIRCRAFT TO CAPACITY AND TOOK OFF INTO A DARK, CLEAR, MOONLESS NIGHT TOWARDS OPEN, FLAT TERRAIN WITH FEW GROUND LIGHTS. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED SECONDS LATER. IT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING/NOSE SLIGHTLY LOW ATTITUDE AT HIGH SPEED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRFRAME, ENGINES, INSTRUMENTS, OR CONTROLS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN AWAKE FOR 22 HOURS WITH LITTLE OR NO REST. HE WAS NOT CURRENT FOR NIGHT FLIGHT. HIS IFR CURRENCY COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23ST](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23ST-1991-06-21), registration cancelled 1991-06-21, S/N 50 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Morane-Saulnier MS760
- Registry model: [Morane-Saulnier MS760](https://openairdocs.org/model/morane-saulnier-ms760) (registry code 5910102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50
- Airframe hours: 1108
- Engines: TURBOMECA MARBORE VI C2 1060 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Stonewall Transport, Inc.
- Registered owner: Stonewall Transport, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 6, 1990
- Destination: LCR, LAS CRUCES, NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,372 total, 56 in this make and model, 1,193 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 11 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 19900911038899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900911038899A), Sep 11, 1990: Mnslnr MS760, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into ground on dark night climbing turn. Spatial disorientation and fatigue lead to failure to note descent.

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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