Witnesses Describe Accelerated Stall In Turn

Editor's Note: Below is the unedited preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board on the June 29 takeoff crash of a Cessna U206F in Santa Rosa, NM. As ANN reported, all five passengers onboard the plane perished when the aircraft apparently stalled in a climbing left turnout...

NTSB Identification: DFW08FA170
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 29, 2008 in Santa Rosa, NM
Aircraft: Cessna U206F, registration: N2905Q
Injuries: 5 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 29, 2008, at approximately 1259 mountain daylight time, a single-engine Cessna U206F, N2905Q, was destroyed upon impact with terrain near Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The airplane departed Santa Rosa Municipal Airport (I58), Santa Rosa, New Mexico with a final destination of Chicago, Illinois. The intermediate destination is unknown. No flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight.

Two people witnessed the airplane accident. The first witness, who was located just outside of the airport perimeter, watched the airplane take off and reported that the airplane departed the runway at a point that equated to approximately half way down the 5,013 foot long runway. The witness added that the airplane climbed to approximately 200-300 feet above ground level (AGL) before the pilot began a left turn with the airplane still in a nose high attitude. The airplane continued to turn until it reached almost 180 degrees of heading change before the airplane's nose dropped sharply. The airplane continued a dive towards the ground before the witness lost sight of the airplane behind rolling terrain. When the witness regained sight of the airplane, a fire had started around the engine section.

An additional witness, who was an employee at an aircraft manufacturing company, was driving along a road and recalled seeing the accident airplane began to lift off from the runway. The witness stated that the airplane, at first, appeared to have difficulty climbing away from the runway. Once in the air, the witness estimated that the airplane climbed to approximately 200-300 feet AGL before beginning a slow turn to the left in a nose high attitude. The witness stated that the nose high attitude seemed a bit steeper than a normal airplane take off and that the nose high attitude continued through the turn until near 180 degrees of heading change, when the airplane's left wing dropped sharply. The witness equated flight path as similar to a "crop duster's turn" to reverse course. Additionally, the witness reported that the airplane quickly dropped altitude and dove towards the ground. The witness lost sight of the airplane behind terrain and rushed to the airport to provide assistance. Responding police units attempted to extinguish the fire, but an explosion from the fuel tanks and extreme fire forced the first responders to wait for fire fighters to arrive on-scene.

The wreckage was located on airport property and was partially consumed by fire damage. All control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site. An examination of the on-scene wreckage revealed that the left wing was completely separated from the airplane with thermal damage consuming almost one-third of the wing. The right wing remained partially attached and displayed thermal damage. The airplane was equipped with a short take off and landing (STOL) kit and had stall fences installed. Flaps were found at the 10 degrees position. All occupied aircraft seats exhibited downward compression with the seat rails bent towards the left side of the airplane. The fuselage exhibited heavy fire damaged from aft of the firewall to the back of the cargo compartment.

The wreckage was transported to a secure facility for further examination.

At 1253, an automated weather reporting station located at Tucumcari Municipal Airport (TCC), approximately 53 nautical miles north east of the accident, reported winds from 110 degrees at 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, skies clear, temperature 79 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.34 inches of Mercury.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov