Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, January 2, 2024
On January 2, 2024 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built RV-6, registered N111XF, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Moriarty, New Mexico (Moriarty Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2024 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · Moriarty Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6, built 1997
- Registration
- N111XF · registry record · serial 24474
- 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 the airplane was operating normally throughout the preflight and initial takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, and while still over the runway, the engine began to “stutter” and lose power. The pilot turned on the electric fuel pump, but the engine did not respond. During the forced landing that followed, the airplane exited the runway and the landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the fuselage. The pilot stated that 6 to 12 months before the accident he had experienced a similar instance of an engine failure during takeoff, but he was able to land during that instance. He attributed that loss of power to a failed fuel pump. He stated that he replaced the failed fuel pump with a used fuel pump that was on an engine that he rebuilt 70 yrs ago. Attempts to contact the pilot to access the airplane and engine for an examination were unsuccessful. Although the fuel pump was reportedly 70 yrs old, investigators could not determine if it failed. Therefore, 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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,943 hours in all; 943 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 943 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 943 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 A-28 (piston); 3,765 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 6,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KCQC, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCQC 021753Z AUTO 07017KT 10SM CLR 05/M10 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP211 T00501100 10050 21022 50006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR24LA063.