# NTSB FTW95FA238: Smith LONG-EZ, N86PD, Cloudcroft, NM, June 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1995, 11:16 local (17:16 UTC) - Place: Cloudcroft, NM - Coordinates: 32.950092, -105.730873 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9501&lon=-105.7309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95FA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19230/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA238 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TREES. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE, THE RISING TERRAIN, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - abrupt, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE LINEMAN AT ALAMOGORDO AIRPORT REPORTED ADDING 28 GALLONS OF 100LL AVGAS TO THE FUEL TANKS. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF WITH TWO MEN (APPROXIMATELY 195 POUNDS EACH PLUS PERSONAL ITEMS). THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER HIGH ROLLS, NEW MEXICO AND EAST TOWARDS PINEY WOODS, NEW MEXICO. WITNESSES IN PINEY WOODS REPORTED TO THE STATE POLICE THAT 'THE AIRCRAFT WAS CIRCLING SO LOW THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO LAND.' THE AIRPLANE WAS NEXT OBSERVED AT THE TOP OF THE VALLEY IN THE MOUNTAIN PASS VILLAGE OF CLOUDCROFT, NEW MEXICO, WHERE A WITNESS REPORTED THAT IT OVERFLEW THE VILLAGE 'AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE AND MISSED THE TOP OF MY BUILDING BY 30 FEET.' THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED SEVERAL TIMES MAKING ABRUPT STEEP BANK HEADING CHANGES. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT 'THE PLANE WAS ON ITS SIDE AND THE WINGS WERE PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND.' THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TALL PINE TREE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 8,665 FEET AND THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 11,900 FEET. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 12, 1995, at 1116 mountain daylight time, a Smith, Long-EZ, N86PD, was destroyed while maneuvering near Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The private pilot was fatally injured and his pilot rated passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was being operated by the owner/builder, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport near Alamogordo, New Mexico, at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight and no flight plan was filed. A lineman at the airport in Alamogordo, New Mexico, reported that the pilot asked that the airplane be serviced with 28 gallons of 100LL Avgas. The pilot further requested "put what will go into what ever tank then the rest in the other tank because the tanks were interconnected." The pilot checked the oil in the engine and when the lineman asked if he needed oil, the pilot responded negatively. The airplane departed Alamogordo and headed east to fly over the Sacramento Mountains which rise to 9,580 feet. Witnesses observed the airplane fly low over High Rolls, New Mexico and on up the valley towards Piney Woods, New Mexico. Witnesses in Piney Woods reported to the State Police that "the aircraft was circling so low that they thought it was going to land." The airplane was next observed at the top of the valley in the mountain pass village of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, where a witness reported that it overflew the village "at a very low altitude and missed the top of my building by 30 feet." The airplane continued to fly over the town at a very low altitude and several times was seen making abrupt steep bank heading changes. One witness reported that "the plane was on its side and the wings were perpendicular to the ground." On the east side of the village the airplane collided with a tall pine tree and subsequently impacted the ground. The elevation at the accident site was 8,665 feet and the calculated density altitude at the time of the accident was 11,900 feet. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The manufacturer selected a maximum gross weight of 1500 pounds; however, the designer stated that "routine operations above 1,325 pounds gross weight are not recommended." The maximum landing weight for a Long-EZ is 1,325 pounds. The designer further cautions that "operations above the designed gross weight limitations as stated in this manual, is a high risk activity and an extremely hazardous practice." A higher maximum gross weight of 1,420 pounds may be used for takeoff only, provided certain limitations are followed which are outlined in the Owner's Handbook. The designer again cautions that "the pilot should not attempt high gross weight operations at high density altitudes." A calculation of the gross weight of the accident airplane at the time of takeoff was a minimum of 1,520 pounds. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane came to rest among trees at the base of a hill approximately 50 feet from highway US 82 and 100 feet west of mile post 17. Numerous pine branches with slash marks and paint transfers were found on a measured heading of 130 degrees leading to the final resting site of the airplane. Debris was found for 200 feet leading to the impact site. The fuselage came to rest on a measured heading of 223 degrees. See enclosed wreckage diagram for wreckage distribution. Continuity was established to the engine and flight controls. The fuel tanks had been compromised, but fuel was found in the carburetor. An examination of the engine reveled no indications of anomalies that could have affected it's performance (see enclosed engineering report). ADDITIONAL DATA The airplane was released to the owner's representative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86PD-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 1059 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMITH LONG-EZ - Registry model: [Smith David Wallace LONG-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-david-wallace-long-ez) (registry code 05609ZQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1059 - Airframe hours: 637 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Smith, David W. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1994, 22 hours before - Departed: ALM, ALAMOGORDO, NM - Destination: ROW, ROSWELL, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,025 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HMN, 25 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 19950612014599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950612014599A), Jun 12, 1995: Amtr LONG EZ, Cloudcroft, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Buzzing a town high density altitude and over gross weight. Collided with a tree and ground. 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.