Durbin GLASAIR R N57JD

Summary

On 28 July 1997 at about 17:20 local time, a Durbin GLASAIR R registered N57JD was involved in an accident near Chama, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 1997 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Chama, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

36.8904, -106.5802

Aircraft

Durbin GLASAIR R

Registration

N57JD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Canyon → Oshkosh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA286

1 person died.

flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude and/or clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the low ceiling, rain, fog, and high/mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a cross-country flight, operating on a VFR flight plan. According to radar data, the airplane was following the apparent area of a highway and railroad track over mountainous terrain near Cumbres Pass. The highway went over the pass at 10,200 feet msl. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the side of a mountain at an elevation of about 10,000 feet, approximately 1/2 mile from the top of the pass. The surrounding mountains were higher than the elevation of the crash site. There was evidence the pilot had entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). A railroad maintenance crew, working at the top of Cumbres Pass during the morning of the accident, noted low clouds and rain during the entire time, and reported the visibility was less than 1/4 mile at the pass.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.