Rockwell 112TC accident near Santa Rosa, New Mexico, July 25, 1996
On July 25, 1996 at about 4:07 pm local time, a Rockwell 112TC, registered N1874J, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Rosa, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1996 · about 4:07 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Rosa, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 112TC
- Registration
- N1874J · no longer on the register · serial 13033
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The climb to a cruising altitude of 15,500 feet msl was normal. After approximately 10 to 15 minutes at cruise altitude, the airplane's engine 'abruptly' lost total power, and an attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The pilot maneuvered to land to the west into the wind on interstate 40. While on short final, a tanker truck pull into the clear area that he had intended to land. He then turned the airplane to the right, and intentionally stalled it into some trees and bushes next to the interstate. The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire. Examination of the airplane and engine did not disclose any maintenance anomalies which would have resulted in the loss of power. Fuel samples were taken at the fueling facility where the airplane had last refueled. No contamination was found. A test run of the engine and an examination and flow test of the carburetor were accomplished. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,060 hours in all; 805 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,040 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TO-360-C1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albequerque NM at 3:30 pm
- Destination: ADS Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.