Amateur-built GLASAIR 1-RG accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico, December 30, 1999
On December 30, 1999 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR 1-RG, registered N1190D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico (Sierra Blanca Reg Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to perform an adequate preflight, and the subsequent partial power loss as a result of water contamination in the fuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 1999 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 1999
- Place
- Ruidoso, New Mexico · Sierra Blanca Reg Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR 1-RG GLASAIR 1-
- Registration
- N1190D · registry record · serial 579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that shortly after takeoff, the engine 'started cutting out and was not developing enough power to maintain altitude.' The pilot made a shallow right turn and landed on a new crosswind runway which was still under construction. The runway was covered with snow, and shortly after touchdown the 'motor caught and I became airborne again.' During the second landing, the airplane impacted foot high gravel piles, and nosed over. The pilot said that he had been getting 'some water' from his fuel tank sump checks over the previous two months.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,866 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 899 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 1999; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRR at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:10 pm from SRR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1190D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A 49 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sierra Blanca Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,422 since 1982 · 183 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,105 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN00LA034.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.