Liberty Aerospace Incorporated LIBERTY XL-2 accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, March 2, 2022
On March 2, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2006 Liberty Aerospace Incorporated LIBERTY XL-2, registered N552XL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Las Cruces, New Mexico (Las Cruces Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s inability to climb during takeoff due to a degradation of engine performance due to high density altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Cruces, New Mexico · Las Cruces Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Liberty Aerospace Incorporated LIBERTY XL-2, built 2006 · all LIBERTY XL-2s on the register
- Registration
- N552XL · no longer on the register · serial 0042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff with a density altitude of 6,750 ft and the airplane’s weight near gross weight, the airplane’s acceleration seemed sluggish. The airplane lifted off about 1/3 of the way down the runway after achieving 55 knot rotation speed, but the climb was also “sluggish”. The airplane cleared the airport perimeter fence and began to settle. The airplane subsequently touched down on soft dirt and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and he believed that the cause of the accident was a combination of high-density altitude and the airplane’s weight close to the maximum allowable gross weight.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,278.5 hours in all; 373.8 in this make and model; 11.4 in the last 90 days; 11.4 in the last 30 days; 2,087.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 29, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 384.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,653 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motor IOF-240-B (piston); 12 hours total
The flight
- Destination: AVQ Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 7,501 ft by 105 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KLRU, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLRU 022135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 26/M07 A3014 RMK AO2 T02591066
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22LA116.