Temco GC-1B accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico, November 5, 2004
On November 5, 2004 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Temco GC-1B, registered N80791, was substantially damaged in an accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico (Angel Fire 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 2004 · about 10:15 pm local time · cases in 2004
- Place
- Angel Fire, New Mexico · Angel Fire · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Temco GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N80791 · registry record · serial 194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the landing roll on runway 17, he "lost rudder effect and [the] airplane began to weathervane to the right." The pilot added back pressure, "set the tail down," and applied brakes. After several "turns" to the left and right," the airplane ground looped to the left. Both main landing gear collapsed causing substantial damage. According to the pilot, winds at the time of the accident were reported to him, by the UNICOM, as 240 degrees at 14 knots. The pilot stated further that the winds appeared to be from 250 degrees to 260 degrees. In a statement provided by the individual manning the UNICOM, the winds were reported as 225 degrees at 14 knots. The calculated crosswind component was between 12 and 14 knots.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,092 hours in all; 178 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,005 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 3, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2004; 30.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,970 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls-Royce IO-360-DC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DDC Dodge City KS at 7:45 pm
- Destination: AXX Angel Fire NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 8,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from SKX, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N80791 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N80791 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Temco GC-1 116 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Temco 131 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rolls-Royce IO-360-DC · as the NTSB recorded it
- Angel Fire Airport · nearest airport
- Dodge City Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,113 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N80791 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN05CA021.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.