Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Angle Fire, New Mexico, January 15, 2012
On January 15, 2012 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N513CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Angle Fire, New Mexico (Angel Fire Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2012 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Angle Fire, New Mexico · Angel Fire Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N513CW · registry record · serial 32R-7885170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial takeoff climb from runway 17, the airplane veered abruptly to the left and started to sink. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff and the airplane settled back to the ground. As the airplane rolled through the snow, the nosewheel and the left main landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that the outboard portion of the left wing was substantially damaged. The reported wind about the time of the accident was from 250 degrees 26 knots gusting up to 37 knots. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,217 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 8,190 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,764 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2011
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1GD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAXX Angle Fire NM at 11:00 pm
- Destination: KAAO Wichita KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 8,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 26 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KAXX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.