Piper PA-30 accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico, April 3, 2011
On April 3, 2011 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7849Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ruidoso, New Mexico (Sierra Blanca Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The left engine's intermittent loss of power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude at the time of the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2011 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ruidoso, New Mexico · Sierra Blanca Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7849Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following the initial climb after takeoff, and while approximately 200 feet above ground level, the airplane's left engine experienced an intermittent loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude, the airplane collided with the airport's perimeter fence and the left wing struck a tree. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest in an upright position in a field adjacent to the airport. Per the airplane's pilot operating handbook, the single-engine service ceiling was listed as 5,800 feet density altitude; the calculated density altitude around the time of the accident was 9,040 feet. An airframe and powerplant mechanic with an inspection authorization examined both engines following the accident and noted no abnormalities that would have prevented either engine from producing power. The reason for the left engine's intermittent loss of power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during uncontrolled descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 15,035 as pilot in command; 13,750 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,675 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRR Ruidoso NM at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 2TS6 Midlothian TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 37 knots, gusting 46
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from SRR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.