Smith LONG-EZ accident near Cloudcroft, NM
On June 12, 1995, a Smith LONG-EZ (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cloudcroft, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 12, 1995
- Place
- Cloudcroft, NM
- Aircraft
- Smith LONG-EZ · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.950°N, 105.731°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X03687
NTSB summary
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 alti
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.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · Smith aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
