DEN03LA135

Factual narrative

On July 22, 2003, at 1050 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N60VA, operated by JAMBRO INC., was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a touch-and-go landing at Angel Fire Airport (AXX), Angel Fire, New Mexico. The airline transport certificated instructor, and a private pilot receiving instruction, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Santa Fe, New Mexico, at approximately 0940. The instructor stated that this was a "re-familiarization" flight for the pilot and that the pilot also wanted a better understanding of flying in and around Angel Fire. With the private pilot at the controls, they entered the traffic pattern and set up for a touch-and-go landing on runway 17. The landing was uneventful, and the pilot slowed the airplane down to approximately 10 to 15 knots. When the pilot added power for take-off, the airplane swerved to the left and the airplane's left main landing gear departed the left side of the runway. As the pilot applied rudder and aileron control to recover, the airplane veered to the right across the runway. When the airplane departed the right side of the runway, the instructor called out "I've got it." The airplane ground-looped to the right and struck a ditch between the runway and taxiway. The airplane's left main landing gear collapsed inward, the engine mount was displaced, the firewall was buckled, and the outboard 3 feet of the left wing was bent upward approximately 30 degrees. The instructor stated that this was a "re-familiarization" flight for the pilot and that the pilot also wanted a better understanding of flying in and around the airport. With the private pilot at the controls, they entered the traffic pattern and set up for a touch-and-go landing on runway 17. The landing was uneventful, and the pilot slowed the airplane down to approximately 10 to 15 knots. When the pilot added power for take-off, the airplane swerved to the left and the airplane's left main landing gear departed the left side of the runway. As the pilot applied rudder and aileron control to recover, the airplane veered to the right across the runway. When the airplane departed the right side of the runway, the instructor called out "I've got it." The airplane ground-looped to the right and struck a ditch between the runway and taxiway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12