Ruidoso - Reno

On September 11, 1991 at 11:50 AM, Ruidoso - Reno experienced a crash involving Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600), operated by Jimmy M. Franklin, with the event recorded near Ruidoso-Sierra Blanca New Mexico.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While departing on a cross country flight the aircraft was observed to have an abnormally long takeoff roll and to rotate abruptly to a higher than normal nose attitude. Initial climb was followed by settling with a high nose attitude and the aircraft crashed approximately one mile beyond the departure end of the runway. The main cabin door was found in the unlocked position and the lower half was found near the beginning of the wreckage path with impact damage. The top half was found further down the wreckage path and had sustained fire damage. The Aerostar has an observed drag and pitch performance degradation if the cabin door opens during takeoff run. A passenger was seriously injured while two other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N4VH, MSN 60-0055-125, year of manufacture 1971.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 33.3540°, -105.6627°.