Aerotrike Cobra accident near Santa Teresa, NM
On April 1, 2023, an Aerotrike Cobra was involved in an accident near Santa Teresa, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 1, 2023
- Place
- Santa Teresa, NM
- Aircraft
- Aerotrike Cobra · WSFT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.864°N, 106.693°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230323106945
Official records · WPR23FA138
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On April 1, 2023, about 0735 mountain daylight time, N3517Q (expired registration number), Aerotrike Cobra weight-shift-control (WSC) light sport aircraft was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to family members, the pilot departed from Dona Ana County International Jetport Airport (DNA), Santa Teresa, New Mexico, the morning of the accident. The pilot planned to meet up with a friend who was flying in the area. The friend, who was conducting an instructional tandem flight in a powered parachute, witnessed the accident aircraft north of his position, in level flight about 1,100 ft above ground level (agl). He then saw the trike turn south towards his position. Shortly thereafter, he saw the accident aircraft in a flat spin that continued until it impacted the ground. He further stated that the engine appeared to be operating normally, and he didn’t see anything broken or deformed with the wing while it was in the spin. Nearby witnesses reported hearing the impact with the ground and subsequent explosion. An examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft impacted a street surface near an intersection. A small area fire ensued, consuming some of the wreckage and portions of nearby trees. The wing structure and carriage, which remained attached, displayed impact and thermal damage. The airframe parachute system had activated, and the parachute deployed from its containment bag and remained i
Probable cause
The pilot’s exceedance of the aircraft’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
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.
