Amateur-built Mig-17 accident near Truth Or Conseq, New Mexico, March 25, 2004
On March 25, 2004 at about 2:28 pm local time, a amateur-built Mig-17, registered N508M, was destroyed in an accident near Truth Or Conseq, New Mexico. 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 aircraft control for undetermined reasons resulting in impact with desert terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2004 · about 2:28 pm local time
- Place
- Truth Or Conseq, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Mig-17
- Registration
- N508M · no longer on the register · serial 1J0508
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot checked in with the air traffic control center and was cleared to Flight Level 350. Approximately 28 minutes into the flight the pilot told the center that his right underwing fuel tank was not transferring fuel and that he needed to declare an emergency. The controller asked the pilot where he wanted to proceed. the pilot responded with his intended destination. Two minutes later, radar contact with the airplane was lost. Shortly following the loss of radar contact, the center began tracking several targets that fanned out to the northwest and east of the airplane's last recorded position. The airplane wreckage was discovered 2 days later in a crater approximately 3.5 nautical miles northwest of the last radar return. An examination of recovered components showed that the two underwing fuel tanks separated from the airplane prior to its impact with the ground. The examination also showed that components associated with the airplane's cockpit area were subjected to a fire of short duration and low temperature. No other anomalies were found.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 11,460 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Klimov VK-1A (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROW Roswell NM at 1:59 pm
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from TCS, 18 miles away
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.
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.