Hemp Timothy LEGACY 2000 N273TE

Summary

On 1 March 2012 at about 11:35 local time, a Hemp Timothy LEGACY 2000 registered N273TE, operated by Westbrook George J, was involved in an accident near Belen, 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

1 March 2012 at 11:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Belen, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Alexander Municipal Airport (E80)

Coordinates

34.6510, -106.7696

Aircraft

Hemp Timothy LEGACY 2000

Registration

N273TE

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Westbrook George J

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belen → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN12FA174

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane during the hours of darkness when he had a restriction for daytime flight only due to color vision limitations.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental airplane collided with power lines shortly after takeoff and before sunrise. No distress calls from the pilot were reported, and no one witnessed the accident. The airplane was severely fragmented, and the debris path extended over 900 feet beyond the initial contact with the power lines consistent with a high-velocity impact. Examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Two occupants were on board the airplane, the pilot and the pilot-rated owner of the airplane. Witnesses reported that the pilot and pilot-rated passenger flew together because the pilot-rated passenger did not have a valid medical certificate. The pilot's most recent medical certificate had the following restrictions: "must wear corrective lenses" and "limited to daytime flight only" due to color vision limitations. The investigation revealed that the power lines were barely visible on the horizon in the desertlike terrain during daylight hours. Although it could not be determined whether the pilot or the pilot-rated passenger was at the controls at the time of the accident, it is likely that the flight's conduct before sunrise and the pilot's restriction for daytime flight only due to color vision limitations made the identification of the power lines more difficult.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.