Tecnam P2002 accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, April 8, 2019
On April 8, 2019 at about 9:38 pm local time, a 2006 Tecnam P2002, registered N118LS, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2019 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Tecnam P2002, built 2006
- Registration
- N118LS · no longer on the register · serial 174
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a touch-and-go landing. Surveillance footage showed that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane appeared to stop climbing. The right wing then dropped and the airplane entered a steep, nose-down attitude and impacted the ground. A postimpact fire ensued. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was calculated to be about 8,600 ft. Given the available evidence, it is likely that the engine’s performance was degraded by the high density altitude and the airplane’s critical angle of attack was exceeded during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Physical › Health/Fitness › Use of medication/drugs › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,589 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL S2 (piston); 491 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,316 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSAF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on June 3, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Interview | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Examination | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Site Examination Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Logbook Excerpt Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Loogbook Excerpt Engine Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Flight Manual Stall Speeds | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Accident Video Courtesy of Joe Gamez (Signature Flight) | AVI file | Download |
| 13 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.