COLFAX COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – The National Transportation Safety Board released an investigation preliminary report regarding a fatal plane crash that happened near Eagle Nest on July 6.
The pilot of a Beech F35 plane died when the plane crashed into mountainous terrain around 1:45 p.m. as he was headed to Hobbs after taking off from Angel Fire airport 15 minutes earlier. According to the NTSB, the pilot lived in Eagle Nest and would travel between Angel Fire and Hobbs for work.
Investigators learned the plane had just refueled with 28 gallons. Before takeoff, the pilot’s wife told investigators that she noted that the airport was surrounded by storm clouds and that her husband said if it became dangerous, he would return to the airport.
Other witnesses said they saw the pilot perform work on the nose gear of the airplane before leaving. The pilot’s wife said that this was not unusual because the nose gear strut had developed a leak, and he would often service it with air. The pilot’s wife also told officials that there were no issues with takeoff.
Family members became concerned when the pilot did not arrive in Hobbs later that day, and an alert notice was issued with the FAA. The airplane was located two days later, about 10 miles northeast of Angel Fire airport.
Investigators said the plane was found on a 30-degree slope at the end of a box canyon at an elevation of 9,932 feet, about 500 feet below, and 2 miles west of Cimarroncito Peak.
According to the report, the plane appeared to have hit the tops of trees before hitting the ground, and almost the entire plane caught fire.
According to family, the pilot typically flew to the Eagle Nest Dam just to the north, and followed Cimarron Canyon through to the lower plains, about 20 miles east. Before going south to Hobbs
A review of the airplane’s flight history indicated that its ADS-B system, which according to the FAA, broadcasts information about an aircraft’s GPS location, altitude, ground speed, and other data to ground stations and other aircraft, was not operating consistently during the months leading up to the accident.
Officials have not released the identity of the pilot. The investigation is ongoing.
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