FTW93LA226

A flight of four aircraft departed tucumcari, new Mexico, for winslow, Arizona with N88PS acting as flight lead. En route weather was encountered and two of the non instrument rated pilots returned to tucumcari, the one instrument rated pilot obtained an IFR clearance and continued the flight. The non instrument rated pilot of N88PS continued in VFR cruise at a lower altitude. As the visibility went to zero in rain and fog, the airplane impacted a transmission line and descended uncontrolled to the ground. The pilot stated that the pilot of N8575C had obtained a weather briefing prior to the departure from tucumcari. A search by the FAA flight service stations and an interview with the pilot of N8575C revealed that an official weather briefing had not been obtained. Area forecast for portions of Arizona and new nexico indicated thunderstorms and rain showers. The nearest weather reporting station at the time of the accident was las vegas, new Mexico, with a ceiling of 200 feet overcast and a visibility of one mile with light rain and fog. Local authoriites at the accident site reported the visibility less than 1/8 mile.

On August 3, 1993, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Sukane KR-2, N88PS, was destroyed near Clines Corners, New Mexico, during impact with high tension lines and terrain. The non instrument rated private pilot sustained serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a personal interview, conducted by the investigator in charge, the pilot stated that a flight of four aircraft was returning to California from the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, EAA Airshow, and had remained overnight in Tucumcari, New Mexico. The flight of four departed for Winslow, Arizona. When en route weather was encountered, one of the pilots obtained an instrument clearance and continued his flight. Two of the non instrument rated pilots returned to Tucumcari, New Mexico. The non instrument rated pilot involved in the accident continued to cruise at lower altitudes as the weather deteriorated. The pilot reported, on the enclosed Pilot/Operator report, zero visibility due to fog and precipitation.

Examination of the site by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector indicated that airplane parts were distributed for 1,004 feet on a measured magnetic heading of 240 degrees beyond damaged transmission highlines. The airplane came to rest in an inverted attitude. Local authorities reported the visibility less than 1/8 mile at the time of the accident.

A search by the FAA flight service stations did not reveal weather briefings having been given to the airplanes or pilots in the flight. During an interview, conducted by the FAA inspector, the pilot of N8575C stated that he did not obtain an official weather briefing. He further stated that another pilot, not in their group, had received an IFR weather briefing for Albuquerque, New Mexico, and that pilot told him that the weather was clear. He confirmed that their group included four airplanes and that the two pilots of the airplanes returning to Tucumcari, New Mexico, had reported airplane, N88PS, as missing.

A review of the area forecast by the investigator-in-charge revealed that thunderstorms and rainshowers were forecasted throughout portions of New Mexico and Arizona. Las Vegas, New Mexico, surface observation at 0752 was an estimated ceiling of 200 feet with a visibility of one mile in light rain and fog.