# NTSB DFW08LA187: AMS Flight Carat A, N234CT, Edgewood, NM, July 16, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2008, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Edgewood, NM - Coordinates: 35.024723, -106.234725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0247&lon=-106.2347&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68456/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA187 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude resulting in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [AMS Flight D O O CARAT A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05615YH), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [AMS Flight D O O CARAT A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05615YH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [AMS Flight D O O CARAT A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05615YH), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [AMS Flight D O O CARAT A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05615YH), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The motor glider had been soaring for approximately one-half hour when lift disappeared and it began to get into an area of significant sink. The private pilot was unable to restart the engine and attempted an emergency landing in rocky, hilly terrain. A witness saw the glider suddenly pitch down and "nose dive" into the ground from an altitude of approximately 150 feet AGL . An examination of the glider wreckage revealed damage consistent with a nose-low, nearly vertical impact. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2008, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, an AMS Flight Carat A glider, N234CT, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering for an emergency landing near Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered co-owner of the glider, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Moriarty Airport (0E0), Moriarty, New Mexico, approximately 1330. The accident flight was the second flight of the day for the pilot. The motorized glider had self launched to the soaring area west of Moriarty and had been soaring for approximately one half hour when the lift disappeared and the glider got into an area with significant sink. The pilot said he was unable to restart the engine and began planning for an off-field emergency landing and that the landing area available was marginal and littered with six to ten foot tall juniper trees. A witness about 150 yards away from the impact location observed the glider heading northeast and estimated it to be approximately 150 feet above the ground when she saw it suddenly "nose-dive" into the ground. Emergency rescue crews arrived on the scene within 15 minutes after the crash. Responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors reported that the glider struck the ground next to a small juniper tree in a near perpendicular attitude and came to rest upright facing opposite to the direction of travel as described by the witness and remained mostly intact. The canopy had separated from the aircraft and the tail was broken but not completely separated from the aircraft. The "beak" propeller was found with both blades driven tip first straight into the ground. The spoilers and landing gear were extended and the landing gear switch was found in the down position. An oxygen nasal canula was found connected but the oxygen system's automatic function did not appear to be turned on. The fuel tank had ruptured; however an odor of fuel was detected by the inspector several hours after the crash. Control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. According to another pilot familiar with the accident glider, the spoilers can be locked in an extended position and that landings are typically done with the spoilers extended one to one and one half inches. However, if the spoilers are extended abruptly to the full extend position, the aircraft severely pitches nose down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N234CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N234CT-2017-06-21), registration cancelled 2017-06-21, S/N CA011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMS Flight Carat A - Registry model: [AMS Flight D O O CARAT A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ams-flight-d-o-o-carat-a) (registry code 05615YH) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: CA011 - Airframe hours: 72 - Engines: Sauer S 1800 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2008, 7 hours before - Departed: 0E0, MORIARTY, NM - Airport: 0E0, Moriarty ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 623 total, 16 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KABQ, 21 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 20080716841439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080716841439A), Jul 16, 2008: Amtr CARATA, Edgewood, NM, Destroyed. (-23) On July 16, 2008, at approximately 1420 MDT, N234CT, an ams flight model carat a motorized glider, crashed in a field southwest of Edgewood, new Mexico.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.