# NTSB FTW92FA099: Rockwell 690A, N111FL, Taos, NM, March 30, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1992, 19:00 local (Mar 30, 1992, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Taos, NM
- Coordinates: 36.380939, -105.569206 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3809&lon=-105.5692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 5 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18355
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92FA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18355/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92FA099

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE CLIMB AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT.  FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE DARK NIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SLIGHTLY RISING TERRAIN IN A 15 DEGREE LEFT BANK, SLIGHT NOSE UP ATTITUDE WHILE DESCENDING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN DARK NIGHT IMC.  THERE WERE RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AREA AND IT WAS DEVOID OF VISIBLE GROUND REFERENCE LIGHTS.  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TAKEOFF HEADING AND THE IMPACT HEADING WAS 75 DEGREES AND THE AIRPLANE HAD TRAVELED 3,987 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AT INITIAL IMPACT.  THE WRECKAGE SUBSEQUENTLY TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL 837 FEET THROUGH THE BRUSH.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL IN ALL ASPECTS AND ALL OF THE AIRPLANE SYSTEMS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY.  HE STATED THAT THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERED WAS PASSING THROUGH 8,500 FEET WITH A RATE OF CLIMB OF 1,500 FEET PER MINUTE.  THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 7,091 FEET.  HE DID NOT RECALL THE RADIO ALTIMETER ALERT OR THE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATING.  NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.  RESCUE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE DELAYED DUE TO THE WEATHER, DARKNESS, AND SPURIOUS ELT SIGNALS MASKED BY THE WRECKAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N111FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111FL-2014-12-19), registration cancelled 2014-12-19, S/N 11163, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 690A
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 690A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-690a) (registry code 7630515) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331-5&6SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-5-6ser) (registry code 01515, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11163
- Airframe hours: 3404
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-5-251 717 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Legal Air Flight Services, Inc
- Registered owner: Legal Air Flight Services, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 9, 1992, 24 hours before
- Destination: RVS, TULSA, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SKX, Taos Muni, runway 4, 5,798 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,145 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920329007579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920329007579A), Mar 29, 1992: Gulstm 690A, Taos, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Made descending turn to ground impact during dark night IFR climbing turnout aft takeoff. No mechanical defects.

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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