Accident Cessna 140 N3648V, Friday 17 August 1990

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Date:	Friday 17 August 1990
Time:	15:00 LT
Type:	Cessna 140
Owner/operator:	Harry & Linda Pecotte
Registration:	N3648V
MSN:	14919
Year of manufacture:	1948
Engine model:	Continental C-85-12
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Silver City, NM - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED TAKING OFF FROM A GRAVEL RUNWAY ON A MOUNTAIN MESA, WITH CALM WINDS. THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,600 FEET. THE PILOT SAID SHE LIFTED OFF AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, DIVED THE PLANE INTO A CANYON TO GAIN AIRSPEED, TURNED AND FLEW BACK OVER THE AIR STRIP AT 50 FEET AGL. AFTER FLYING SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS, CONSTANTLY LOSING ALTITUDE, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN JUNIPER BRUSH.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN A FLIGHT IN CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR.

Accident investigation: