Garniss STOL 701 accident near Mesilla, NM
On December 15, 2007, a Garniss STOL 701 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mesilla, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 15, 2007
- Place
- Mesilla, NM
- Aircraft
- Garniss STOL 701 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.287°N, 106.789°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080102X00001
NTSB summary
On December 15, 2007, at 1641 mountain standard time, a Garniss STOL 701, N45500, piloted by a sport pilot, was destroyed when it struck terrain while maneuvering near Mesilla, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight originated approximately 1600 from Las Cruces (LRU), New Mexico. According to FAA inspectors, the pilot purchased the airplane approximately 2 months prior to the accident. His wife and daughters, who were witnesses to the accident, told the inspectors that the pilot flew over his home on a "daily basis." Each time, he would "buzz" his house and "wig wag" his wings. On the afternoon of the accident, they observed the airplane circling over a vacant field behind their house in a constant descending left turn. Other witnesses said the pilot began to rock his wings as he made a "lower than normal" pass. As the pilot wig wagged his wings, he "lost control" of the airplane. The left wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. The accident site was approximately 100 yards east of 2031 Old Farm Road, and 350 feet west-southwest of the pilot's residence. A toxicological screen performed by FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, found Chlorpheniramine in the pilot's blood and urine. Since it could not be quantified, it could not be determined how much was in the pilot's body or how long he had taken
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an intentional low altitude maneuver due to impairment, resulting in the in-flight collision with terrain.
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.
