NTSB Prelim: Pilot May Have Been 'Buzzing' His Home | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Sun, Jan 06, 2008

NTSB Prelim: Pilot May Have Been 'Buzzing' His Home

Pilot Was Reported To 'Buzz' His Home Often

Such subjects have been in the news an awful lot this year, but it appears that an accident last month may, ultimately, be chalked up to an unsuccessful 'buzz' job. The pilot was a "longtime" Las Cruces, NM, resident.

Robert Steinmetz, a local physical therapist in Las Cruces for a number of years was killed when one of his aircraft's wings contacted the ground close to his home. Steinmetz, 54, was flying an experimental Rotax powered Zenair STOL CH-701, (FILE photo, above) that he built himself, when he impacted the ground, 'cartwheeling' the airplane.

NTSB Identification: DEN08LA040
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 15, 2007 in Las Cruces, NM
Aircraft: Garniss STOL 701, registration: N45500
Injuries: 1 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 December 15, 2007, at 1641 mountain standard time, a Garniss STOL 701, N45500, piloted by a sport pilot, was destroyed when the it struck terrain while maneuvering on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight originating at an undetermined time from Las Cruces (LRU), New Mexico.

According to an FAA inspector, the pilot purchased the airplane approximately 2 months ago. His daughters told the inspector that every time he flew, he would "buzz" his house and "wig wag" his wings. He was wig wagging his wings when the left wing tip struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

KidVenture Educational Activities Lineup At EAA AirVenture 2025

Youth Explore With Hands-On Builds, RC Airplanes, Flight Sims, Much More KidVenture is located just north of the EAA Aviation Museum, at Pioneer Airport, and has arranged a myriad >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.07.25)

“About nine decades ago, Amelia Earhart was recruited to Purdue, and the university president later worked with her to prepare an aircraft for her historic flight around the >[...]

Airborne 07.07.25: Sully v Bedford, RAF Vandalism, Discovery Moving?

Also: New Amelia Search, B737 Flap Falls Off, SUN ‘n FUN Unveiling, F-16 Record Captain Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 155 people by safely landing an A320 in the Hu>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.08.25)

"It is critically important for North American flight safety that Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations are avoided. All pilots must familiarize themselves with updates to >[...]

Airborne-NextGen 07.08.25: Joby in Dubai, Army Electra, Archer iin Abu Dhabi

Also: Hackers v Aviation, Discovery Moving?, Gogo Galileo HDX, EVE to Costa Rica Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne tri>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC