CEN13LA273

Factual narrative

On May 10, 2013, at 1335 mountain daylight time, a Phillips Zenith 250, N250ZP, collided with terrain after departing Taos Regional Airport (SKX), Taos, New Mexico. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. According to the written statement submitted by the pilot, he elected to take off on runway 04, and the takeoff and climb out were normal until the airplane reached about 300 feet above the ground. At that point "the climb stopped as I experienced turbulent crosswinds and downdrafts." The pilot turned the airplane into the anticipated headwind, but the airplane did not climb as it approached rising terrain and obstacles. The pilot made an additional turn to avoid the obstacles. The airplane continued to descended into a landfill and hit a mulch pile. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine prior to impact, and that he thought the conditions were within the capabilities of the airplane. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) for SKX, issued at 1335 reported wind 130 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky condition few clouds at 5,000 feet, broken clouds at 6,500 feet, over cast skies at 9,000 feet, temperature 14 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint minus 02 degrees C, and altimeter 30.24 inches. The pilot stated a storm cloud had recently passed the airfield from the northwest and that winds were 120 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 22 knots when he departed the runway. The pilot reported that he waited to depart until after a storm cloud passed the airfield from the northwest. Just before takeoff, the pilot obtained the automated weather observing system information, which reported wind from 120 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 22 knots. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from runway 04, the airplane stopped climbing and descended when it encountered "turbulent crosswinds and downdrafts." The pilot turned the airplane, but it still would not climb and continued to encounter downdrafts and turbulence as it approached rising terrain, obstacles, and the storm clouds. The pilot turned the airplane again, but it continued to descend and then impacted a landfill. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Although the reported wind was within the capabilities of the airplane, given the high gusts and recent storm, the pilot should have waited for the wind to subside before taking off. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Downdraft-Contributed to outcome - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Climb capability-Capability exceeded - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Turbulence-(general)-Contributed to outcome - C