Air Trans WHITE LIGHTNING N121WE

Summary

On 31 January 1992 at about 23:39 local time, a Air Trans WHITE LIGHTNING registered N121WE, operated by Air Transportation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Aztec, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 January 1992 at 23:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Aztec, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Aztec Muni (Q19)

Coordinates

36.8193, -107.9995

Aircraft

Air Trans WHITE LIGHTNING

Registration

N121WE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Air Transportation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92DQA01

1 person died.

THE INADVERTENT STALL AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE EXECUTE A SLIP WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE HIGH PERFORMANCE HOME BUILT AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED TO STALL AND ROLL OFF ON ONE WING. THE PRIVATE PILOT WHO WAS ALSO AN A&P MECHANIC WHO HAD WORKED ON THE AIRPLANE WAS ON HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE OWNER HAD TOLD THE PILOT NOT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO HIS ARRIVAL. THE DESIGNER STATED DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE AIRPLANE EVER HAVE BEEN SLIPPED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.