Israel 1124A N61RS

Summary

On 8 November 2002 at about 21:57 local time, a Israel 1124A registered N61RS, operated by Richmor Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Taos, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 November 2002 at 21:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Taos, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Taos Regional (SKX)

Coordinates

36.6033, -105.8506

Aircraft

Israel 1124A

Registration

N61RS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Richmor Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Taos

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03FA036

2 people died.

The pilot's inadvertent flight into mountain wave weather conditions while IMC, resulting in a loss of aircraft control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After passing the initial approach fix, during an instrument approach to the destination airport, radar and radio contact were lost with the business jet. One witness reported hearing "distressed engine noises overhead," and looked up and saw what appeared to be a small private jet flying overhead. The engine seemed to be "cutting in and out." The witness further reported observing the airplane in a left descending turn until his view was blocked by a ridge. The witness then heard an explosion and saw a big cloud of smoke rising over the ridge. A second witness heard a loud noise and looked up and saw a small white airplane with two engines. The witness stated that the airplane started to turn left with the nose of the airplane slightly pointing toward the ground. The airplane appeared to be trying to land on a road. A third witness heard the roar of the airplane's engines, and looked toward the noise and observed the airplane in a vertical descent (nose dive) impact the ground. The witness "heard the engines all the way to the ground." Examination of the airframe and engines did not disclose any structural or mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The National Weather Service had issued a SIGMET for severe turbulence and mountain wave activity. Satellite images depicted bands of altocumulus undulates and/or rotor clouds over the accident site.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.