Rockwell 112B accident near Coyote, New Mexico, February 5, 1995
On February 5, 1995 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Rockwell 112B, registered N1403J, was destroyed in an accident near Coyote, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1995 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coyote, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 112B
- Registration
- N1403J · no longer on the register · serial 527
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, WITH FULL FUEL TANKS, AND FLEW TO TELLURIDE, COLORADO. HE DID NOT REFUEL IN TELLURIDE. HE WAS RETURNING TO SANTA FE WHEN THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY DEVELOPED 'A SERIOUS VIBRATION.' ALL ENGINE INSTRUMENTS REGISTERED NORMAL. THERE WAS A STEADY AND GRADUAL LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DESPITE THE APPLICATION OF FULL POWER AND ALTERNATE AIR HEAT. THE PILOT MADE A WHEELS DOWN FORCED LANDING IN DEEP, SOFT SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ENGINE DISASSEMBLY REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL INJECTION SERVO, INDUCTION GALLEY AND TUBES, AND CYLINDER INTAKE PORTS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NOT FLOWN IN ANY VISIBLE MOISTURE, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE 'BOTH' POSITION AT ALL TIMES DURING BOTH FLIGHTS. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT AT SANTA FE, 35 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, WAS 46 AND 24 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY.
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: 141 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,047 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1994; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEX Telluride CO at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from SAF, 35 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.