Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV 3 accident near Las Cruces, NM
On November 24, 2014, a Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV 3 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 24, 2014
- Place
- Las Cruces, NM
- Aircraft
- Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV 3 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.310°N, 107.061°W
- NTSB ID
- 20141124X61240
Official records · CEN15LA059
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On November 24, 2014, about 1245 mountain standard time, N625ZH, an experimental-homebuilt Ross Vans Aircraft RV-3, sustained substantial damage shortly after takeoff from Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was destined for Dona Ana County Airport (5T6), Santa Teresa, New Mexico. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors performed an on-scene examination of the airplane and interviewed numerous witnesses. The witnesses provided similar accounts as to what they observed. One witness stated that he watched the pilot from the time he entered the airplane up until the accident. He said the pilot performed an engine run-up before takeoff and everything was normal. The pilot then taxied onto the runway, stopped, added full power and lifted off in about 800 feet. The witness said the pilot immediately started a steep angle of climb and the airplane's wings began "shuttering." The airplane made a 90-degree left turn onto crosswind. When the pilot rolled level, the wings were "wobbling" and the airplane was in a nose high attitude and not climbing. The pilot then made another 90 degree turn onto downwind, and the wings were again still "wobbling." The witness said he thought that the pilot was making another left turn and was going to fly over the terminal when the airplane
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain adequate familiarization in the accident airplane type before the accident.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
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- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
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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.
