Aircraft Disappeared About An Hour After Takeoff

A pilot and his passenger perished when a 2005 Savage, made by Zlin Aviation in the Czech Republic, went down Wednesday in northeastern New Mexico.

State police lieutenant Rick Anglada identified the pilot as Jeffery Lane, 57, co-owner of the Bell Ranch, and the passenger as Ryan Hartley, 34, according to the Associated Press.

The accident reportedly occurred on flat rangeland. Wreckage was located near Mosquero, about 200 miles northeast of Albuquerque, by Harding County Sheriff's deputies after family reported the aircraft missing, said Anglada.

Family members told KOAT Action 7 News the plane took off from the Bell Ranch at 0900 MDT Wednesday morning, and went down about an hour later -- they reported it missing shortly thereafter. The wreckage wasn't located until around 1800 that evening.

According to the manufacturer's website, the Savage (shown above) "is a single-engine, high-wing, two-seater tandem microlight aircraft of classic design. It is built in the Czech Republic in full compliance with the aeronautical regulations in force in that country."

This is the second fatal accident in New Mexico in as many weeks. A King Air E90 medevac flight went down near Ruidoso on Aug. 6, killing all five people on board, asANN reported.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 808GS        Make/Model: EXP       Description: ZLIN
  Date: 08/15/2007     Time: 2300

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: MOSQUERO   State: NM   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WERE
  FATALLY INJURED, NEAR MOSQUERO, NM

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:   2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: ALBUQUERQUE, NM  (SW01)               Entry date: 08/16/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.thebellranch.com