Globe GC 1A accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, October 9, 2017
On October 9, 2017 at about 8:25 pm local time, a 1946 Globe GC 1A, registered N90365, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Los Lunas, New Mexico (Mid Valley Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of directional control during takeoff and impact with a steel culvert.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2017 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Los Lunas, New Mexico · Mid Valley Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC 1A NO SERIES, built 1946 · all GC 1As on the register
- Registration
- N90365 · no longer on the register · serial 379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane arrived to the airport as a refuel stop the day before the accident. During the landing, the airplane ground looped and sustained unknown damage to the airplane. Over the course of that day and the day of the accident, the pilot, who was also a mechanic, completed repairs to the airplane with the assistance from persons at the airport. A portion of the repairs included welding to the right main landing gear link assemblies, and any additional repairs to the airplane were unknown. During takeoff the day following the ground loop, the airplane veered to the left of the runway and struck a berm. The airplane became airborne and then impacted a steel culvert structure adjacent to the runway. The pilot died of his injuries 17 days after the accident. Persons who spoke to the pilot before and after the accident reported the pilot had minimal flying experience in recent years in the accident airplane. The pilot stated during his hospital stay after the accident that there were no mechanical issues during the accident takeoff.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,275 hours in all
- Last flight review: April 1, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,570 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IA-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E98 Los Lunas NM at 8:25 pm
- Destination: Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,332 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from E80, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 13, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Wilson | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Parts Catalog - Landing Gear System | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.