Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A accident near Taos, New Mexico, November 8, 2002
On November 8, 2002 at about 9:57 pm local time, a Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A, registered N61RS, was destroyed in an accident near Taos, New Mexico (Taos Regional airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent flight into mountain wave weather conditions while IMC, resulting in a loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2002 · about 9:57 pm local time
- Place
- Taos, New Mexico · Taos Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A · all 1124As on the register
- Registration
- N61RS · registry record · serial 384
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After passing the initial approach fix, during an instrument approach to the destination airport, radar and radio contact were lost with the business jet. One witness reported hearing "distressed engine noises overhead," and looked up and saw what appeared to be a small private jet flying overhead. The engine seemed to be "cutting in and out." The witness further reported observing the airplane in a left descending turn until his view was blocked by a ridge. The witness then heard an explosion and saw a big cloud of smoke rising over the ridge. A second witness heard a loud noise and looked up and saw a small white airplane with two engines. The witness stated that the airplane started to turn left with the nose of the airplane slightly pointing toward the ground. The airplane appeared to be trying to land on a road. A third witness heard the roar of the airplane's engines, and looked toward the noise and observed the airplane in a vertical descent (nose dive) impact the ground. The witness "heard the engines all the way to the ground." Examination of the airframe and engines did not disclose any structural or mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The National Weather Service had issued a SIGMET for severe turbulence and mountain wave activity. Satellite images depicted bands of altocumulus undulates and/or rotor clouds over the accident site.
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during descent - uncontrolled
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 5,251 hours in all; 877 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 14,234 hours in all; 682 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 7, 2002
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,428.7 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 10, 2002; 153.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 23,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett-Airesearch TFE731-3-1G (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Richmor Aviation Inc
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 8:53 pm
- Destination: SKX Taos NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 5,798 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,700 ft; scattered at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 45°C, dew point 28°C
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from SKX, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW03FA036.