Cessna 337A N337LS

Summary

On 1 August 1992 at about 03:18 local time, a Cessna 337A registered N337LS, operated by Lovelace, John C. & B.j., was involved in an accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 1992 at 03:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Ruidoso, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Sierra Blanca Regional (SRR)

Coordinates

33.3499, -105.6805

Aircraft

Cessna 337A

Registration

N337LS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Lovelace, John C. & B.j.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lubbock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DEN92FA078

2 people died.

THE PILOT EXPERIENCING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND THE RESULTANT EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE. FACTORS WERE: THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS CLEARED BY ARTCC FOR A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24. HE ADVISED UNICOM HE WAS TOO HIGH AND WOULD CIRCLE TO LAND. AN AIRPORT ATTENDANT SAW THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING LIGHTS AND WATCHED IT BEGIN A LEFT TURN WHEN IT WAS OVER AND HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE DESCENT RATE INCREASED TO A 'HARD DIVE ABOUT 35 TO 45 DEGREES' BEFORE DISAPPEARING INTO A RAVINE ONE MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. VISUAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED BUT IT WAS A DARK NIGHT WITH NO MOON.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.