Air Trans. INC WHITE LIGHTNING accident near Aztec, New Mexico, January 31, 1992
On January 31, 1992 at about 11:39 pm local time, a Air Trans. INC WHITE LIGHTNING, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N121WE, was destroyed in an accident near Aztec, New Mexico (Aztec Muni airport). 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 INADVERTENT STALL AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1992 · about 11:39 pm local time
- Place
- Aztec, New Mexico · Aztec Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Trans. INC WHITE LIGHTNING WHITE LIGH, amateur-built
- Registration
- N121WE · registry record · serial 76
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE EXECUTE A SLIP WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE HIGH PERFORMANCE HOME BUILT AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED TO STALL AND ROLL OFF ON ONE WING. THE PRIVATE PILOT WHO WAS ALSO AN A&P MECHANIC WHO HAD WORKED ON THE AIRPLANE WAS ON HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE OWNER HAD TOLD THE PILOT NOT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO HIS ARRIVAL. THE DESIGNER STATED DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE AIRPLANE EVER HAVE BEEN SLIPPED.
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: 1,600 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Transportation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:17 pm from FMN, 11 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.