Partenavia P.68 N44956

Summary

On 10 November 2010 at about 18:00 local time, a Partenavia P.68 registered N44956, operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, was involved in an accident near Anthony, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 November 2010 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Anthony, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.0011, -106.5072

Aircraft

Partenavia P.68

Registration

N44956

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Paso → El Paso

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11TA064

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's decision to conduct a low-level flight in mountainous terrain in an area where downdrafts were prevalent, resulting in the inadvertent loss of control and the collision with the terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While performing a low-level law enforcement patrol flight, the pilot crossed a ridge and observed a parked vehicle. To investigate further, he lowered the flaps and descended to approximately 200 feet, into a canyon. The pilot made a second pass over the vehicle and initiated a right turn, during which the airplane encountered a tailwind that resulted in a rapid loss of airspeed and a descent. The pilot leveled the airplane and increased the power; however, the airplane was too slow and low to turn out of the canyon. As a result, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The pilot stated there were no preflight mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.