Aerotrike Cobra accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, April 1, 2023
On April 1, 2023 at about 1:35 pm local time, a 2001 Aerotrike Cobra (weight-shift aircraft), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the aircraft’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2023 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotrike Cobra, built 2001, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial AC 20011
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal flight in the weight-shift-control aircraft. A friend of the pilot, who was flying in the area in his powered parachute, witnessed the accident aircraft flying in level flight toward his position. When he looked back, the aircraft was turning toward him, and shortly thereafter, he saw the aircraft in a flat spin that continued until it impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the parachute likely deployed from its containment bag as a result of ground impact forces. The parachute T-handle remained in the handle mount and the safety pin was found adjacent to the pin hole area. The safety pin engagement surface area exhibited less sooting residue than the head of the pin, consistent with it being installed in the T-handle mount at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the aircraft’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin 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 maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 214 hours in all; 171 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 am from KDNA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDNA 011335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 04/M18 A3021 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 20, 2025. 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 | FAA Record of Interview-vella | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array-(courtesy of the El Paso Soaring Association) | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Accident Site and Wreckage Examination Report | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Memorandum-family Member | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Faa-findings on the Unregistered Aircraft Cui | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.