- Date
- January 28, 1996, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bernal, NM
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N69808Boeing B75N1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 11, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960128002529A
- Case key
- 19753
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper planning/decision, including his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from mountainous terrain to compensate for altitude deviations that resulted from mountain wave/wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the weather/wind conditions, and the proximity of mountainous terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While in cruise flight at 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level on a cross-country flight, severe turbulence was encountered, and according to the pilot, he was unable to maintain altitude. Subsequently, the airplane collided with trees in mountainous terrain. The pilot walked approximately three miles to the nearest highway. Reportedly, he had received a weather briefing before departure, which provided information that high winds and moderate to severe turbulence could be expected along his entire route of flight.
Factual narrative
On January 28, 1996, at 1500 mountain standard time, a Boeing B75N1, N69808, collided with trees during cruise flight near Bernal, New Mexico. The private pilot received minor injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight was en route to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and departed Las Vegas, New Mexico, at 1445, after refueling.
According to the pilot, he encountered winds of 35 knots gusting to 45 knots at 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level and could not control altitude. The aircraft was forced into the trees. The pilot said he walked out to the highway which was approximately three miles from the accident site.
In his written statement, the pilot said his "briefing indicated very windy conditions along the entire route with a SIGMET for turbulence (moderate to severe)."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N69808
- Reported as
- Boeing B75N1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-2674
- Airframe hours
- 4,417
- Engine
- Continental W-670-6N, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Trans Mountain Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Trans Mountain Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 20, 1995 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- LVS · Las Vegas, NM
- Destination
- SAF · Santa Fe, NM
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 699 total · 144 in this make and model · 584 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 35 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N69808 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.