Amateur-built MA-5 CHARGER accident near Vaughn, New Mexico, July 25, 1989
On July 25, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built MA-5 CHARGER, registered N3137G, was destroyed in an accident near Vaughn, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT ENTERING A STALL/MUSH AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO PERMIT RECOVERY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Vaughn, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MA-5 CHARGER MA-5 CHARG
- Registration
- N3137G · no longer on the register · serial 0002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 109 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Vaughn NM at 6:15 pm
- Destination: DHT Dalhart TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm from 4CR, 27 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.
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.