# NTSB DEN91FA127: Butler Aerostar 600, N4VH, Ruidoso, NM, September 11, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1991, 11:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Ruidoso, NM
- Coordinates: 33.349189, -105.679092 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3492&lon=-105.6791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18034
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18034/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA127

## Probable cause

LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT AFTER TO THE CABIN DOOR OPENED INADVERTENTLY DURING TAKEOFF RUN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff
  - door - open (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotation - abrupt, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE DEPARTING ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE AN ABNORMALLY LONG TAKEOFF ROLL AND TO ROTATE ABRUPTLY TO A HIGHER THAN NORMAL NOSE ATTITUDE.  INITIAL CLIMB WAS FOLLOWED BY SETTLING WITH A HIGH NOSE ATTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE MAIN CABIN DOOR WAS FOUND IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION AND THE LOWER HALF WAS FOUND NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE WRECKAGE PATH WITH IMPACT DAMAGE.  THE TOP HALF WAS FOUND FURTHER DOWN THE WRECKAGE PATH AND HAD SUSTAINED FIRE DAMAGE.  THE AEROSTAR HAS AN OBSERVED DRAG AND PITCH PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION IF THE CABIN DOOR OPENS DURING TAKEOFF RUN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4VH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4VH-1992-01-24), registration cancelled 1992-01-24, S/N 600055125 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUTLER AEROSTAR 600 (AEROSTAR 6)
- Registry model: [Butler AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/butler-aerostar-600) (registry code 1710602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60-0055-125
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-F1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Franklin, Jimmy M.
- Registered owner: Franklin, Jimmy M.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Destination: RNO, RENO, NV
- Airport: SRR, Sierra Blanca Regional, runway 24, 8,100 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,600 total, 75 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRR, 1 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 19910911039239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910911039239A), Sep 11, 1991: Ruidoso, NM, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On takeoff rotated at very steep angle,stalled and crashed one mile from airport.

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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