Amateur-built LIGHTHIZER SPECIAL accident near Gallup, New Mexico, August 8, 1984
On August 8, 1984 at about 4:17 pm local time, a amateur-built LIGHTHIZER SPECIAL, registered N11RL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1984 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LIGHTHIZER SPECIAL LIGHTHIZER
- Registration
- N11RL · registry record · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/BUILDER OF THIS ULTRA-LIGHT HAD FLOWN FROM OSHKOSH, WI TO GALLUP, NM WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING HIS ATTEMPTED TAKE-OFF FROM GALLUP HE ALLOWED THE ACFT TO VEER OFF THE RWY TO THE LEFT. AFTER THE ACFT ROLLED INTO THE GRASSHE REGAINED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. JUST AS THE WHEELS LEFT THE GROUND THE ACFT STRUCK THE VASI LIGHT HOUSING. THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PLT WAS NOT USED TO MAKING TAKEOFFS IN HIGH DENSITY ALT CONDITIONS. ALSO, THE SOD WAS WET FROM RECENT RAINS.
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
- Flight time: 690 hours in all; 31 in the last 90 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1984; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from GUP
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.