NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

On October 9, 2017, about 1425 mountain daylight time, a Globe Swift GC-1A airplane, N90365, impacted a steel culvert structure following a loss of control during takeoff from the Mid Valley Airpark (E98), Los Lunas, New Mexico. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating from E98 at the time of the accident and was destined for Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane arrived at E98 the day before the accident as a refuel stop after attending a Swift airplane event in Texas. During the landing at E98, the airplane ground looped and sustained unknown damage to the airplane. Over the course of that day and the day of the accident, the pilot, who was also a mechanic, completed repairs to the airplane with assistance from persons at the airport. A portion of the repairs included welding to the right main landing gear link assemblies, and any additional repairs to the airplane were unknown.

During takeoff from runway 36 (4,332 ft long by 37 ft wide) at E98 on the day of the accident, the airplane veered to the left of the runway and struck a berm. The airplane became airborne and then impacted a steel culvert structure adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to persons who had spoken to the pilot at the event in Texas and after the accident, the pilot had minimal flying experience in recent years in the accident airplane. The persons also reported the pilot stated during his hospital stay that he did not indicate there were any mechanical issues during the accident takeoff.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane records were not located during the investigation.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed the left main landing gear link assemblies were broken. It was not determined if the broken link assemblies were a result of damage sustained during the ground loop the day prior to the accident.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The pilot died in the hospital on October 26, 2017. On October 27, 2017, an autopsy was performed by the Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the autopsy, the cause of death was listed as pneumonia due to blunt trauma. Toxicology tests were not performed due to the lack of available specimens on, or near, the date of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of directional control during takeoff and impact with a steel culvert.