Piper PA-28-140 accident near Truth or Conseq, NM
On October 7, 2005, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Truth or Conseq, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 7, 2005
- Place
- Truth or Conseq, NM
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.101°N, 107.805°W
- NTSB ID
- 20051017X01668
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 7, 2005, approximately 1208 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140E, N55910, operated and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain approximately 30 miles south-southwest of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (TCS). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at TCS at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. A VFR flight plan had been filed and activated. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 1108, and was en route to Benson, Arizona (E95). The pilot was a master sergeant and a C-130 mechanic with the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. A close friend and co-worker told Air Force investigators that the pilot departed AEG en route to E95 on the day before the accident, but was forced to turn around near Socorro, New Mexico, due to poor weather. The purpose of the trip was to inspect a Glasair airplane that he wanted to purchase. The next day, according to FAA documents, the pilot obtained a weather briefing, and filed a VFR flight plan. According to the flight plan, the pilot planned to fly direct to E95. Cruise altitude and airspeed were listed as 8,500 feet msl and 120 knots, respectively. Estimated time en route and fuel on board were listed as 2 hours, 30 minutes and 4 hours, respectively. The pilot departed AEG at 1108, and activated his flight plan at 1109. When he failed to close his flight pla
Probable cause
the pilot's attempt to fly VFR into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the reported low ceiling and mountain obscuration, resulting in the pilot being unable to maintain a visual lookout.
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 · Piper 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.
