Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A accident near Taos, NM
On November 8, 2002, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Taos, NM. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 8, 2002
- Place
- Taos, NM
- Aircraft
- Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.603°N, 105.851°W
- NTSB ID
- 20021115X05473
Official records · FTW03FA036
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 8, 2002, approximately 1457 mountain standard time, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A (Westwind 24) transport category airplane, N61RS, was destroyed when it impacted terrain after passing the initial approach fix while executing the VOR/DME-B approach to the Taos Municipal Airport (SKX) near Taos, New Mexico. The aircraft was registered to Abrams Aviation LLC, of Auburn, Alabama, and operated by Richmor Aviation of Hudson, New York. Both airline transport pilots were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight originated from Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1353 and was destined for Taos to pick up a passenger. Radar data indicates that the airplane passed the TAOS VORTAC at 1456:39, at an altitude of 15,000 feet msl. Albuquerque Air Route Control Center (ARTCC) controllers heard a "MAYDAY" radio call, and radar contact was lost with the airplane at 1457:08, at an altitude of 14,700 feet msl. There was no further communication with the airplane. One witness, located about 0.3 mile northeast of the accident site, reported in a written statement that he heard "distressed engine noises overhead," and looked up and saw what appeared to be a small private jet flying overhead. "The engine seemed to be cutting in and out." The witness observed the airplane "attempt to bank to the south as it dove down till my view was blocked by the ridge to the west of me." The witness then heard an explosion and saw a big
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent flight into mountain wave weather conditions while IMC, resulting in a loss of aircraft control.
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
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
