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GAA17CA580

2017-11-06 · Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport E98

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper glidepath during a night approach, which resulted in impact with terrain short of the runway.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, during a night approach he realized that the airplane was short of the runway and applied power. The airplane rolled to the left and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the bi-plane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, during a night approach, he realized that the airplane was short of the runway and applied power. The airplane rolled to the left and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA580.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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