Piper PA-34-200T accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, May 30, 1997
On May 30, 1997 at about 3:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N36275, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's (PIC's) inadequate supervision of the flight by allowing the pilot-rated passenger to attempt a go-around (aborted landing) without maitaining minimum control speed (VMC), which resulted in loss of aircraft control. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot-rated passenger's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1997 · about 3:24 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N36275 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7870308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses at the airport observed the airplane entering the traffic pattern for touch-and-go landings on runway 28. They reported that the airplane landed hard, porpoised 3 or 4 times, and departed the right side of the runway. According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), the pilot rated passenger in the right seat, who was reported to hold an airline transport rating, applied full power after announcing 'lets go around.' The power in the right engine 'was slow to develope, which instantly skewed the airplane off the runway.' The PIC stated that the airplane was at about 5 feet off the ground as 'he reduced the power to the good engine.' The PIC added that the airspeed was at or near VMC, and 'the airplane started to roll and directional control was not possible.' The PIC reported that he 'pulled both engines back and flared.' In the recommendation block of a Pilot/Operator Report, the PIC recommended 'not attempting [a] full throttle go-around until both engines are confirmed operational, or far above VMC.'
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,755 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 5,498 as pilot in command; 22 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5T6 at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from ELP, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.