Houston - Santa Fe

While descending to his destination the pilot in command (pic) canceled his IFR clearance and declined VFR flight following. Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering at low altitude in the area where the accident occurred, approximately 25 miles from the destination airport. The aircraft impacted rising terrain at 7,300 feet msl. Toxicological testing revealed that the pic and two passengers had cocaine and alcohol in tissue samples. At an unknown time the pic left the cockpit. Based on cockpit voice recorder analysis, he was called back to the cockpit approximately 11 minutes prior to the accident by the copilot. The copilot had no previous Lear experience. Toxicological test results indicated that the pic 'used cocaine in the very recent past, probably while in-flight' and concluded that he 'was impaired by multiple drug use of cocaine and alcohol.' The investigation did not reveal any structural or system failure or malfunction. All seven occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Houston - Santa Fe

Aircraft

Learjet 25

Registration

N999BH

MSN

25-318

Year of Manufacture

1980

Date

September 5, 1993 at 05:15 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mt Rowe New Mexico

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

35.4916°, -105.6752°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On September 5, 1993 at 05:15 PM, Houston - Santa Fe experienced a crash involving Learjet 25, operated by Cambridge Aviation, with the event recorded near Mt Rowe New Mexico.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 5, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While descending to his destination the pilot in command (pic) canceled his IFR clearance and declined VFR flight following. Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering at low altitude in the area where the accident occurred, approximately 25 miles from the destination airport. The aircraft impacted rising terrain at 7,300 feet msl. Toxicological testing revealed that the pic and two passengers had cocaine and alcohol in tissue samples. At an unknown time the pic left the cockpit. Based on cockpit voice recorder analysis, he was called back to the cockpit approximately 11 minutes prior to the accident by the copilot. The copilot had no previous Lear experience. Toxicological test results indicated that the pic 'used cocaine in the very recent past, probably while in-flight' and concluded that he 'was impaired by multiple drug use of cocaine and alcohol.' The investigation did not reveal any structural or system failure or malfunction. All seven occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N999BH, MSN 25-318, year of manufacture 1980.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.4916°, -105.6752°.

Fatalities

Total

7

Crew

2

Passengers

5

Other

0

Crash Summary

While descending to his destination the pilot in command (pic) canceled his IFR clearance and declined VFR flight following. Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering at low altitude in the area where the accident occurred, approximately 25 miles from the destination airport. The aircraft impacted rising terrain at 7,300 feet msl. Toxicological testing revealed that the pic and two passengers had cocaine and alcohol in tissue samples. At an unknown time the pic left the cockpit. Based on cockpit voice recorder analysis, he was called back to the cockpit approximately 11 minutes prior to the accident by the copilot. The copilot had no previous Lear experience. Toxicological test results indicated that the pic 'used cocaine in the very recent past, probably while in-flight' and concluded that he 'was impaired by multiple drug use of cocaine and alcohol.' The investigation did not reveal any structural or system failure or malfunction. All seven occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

5

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 7

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Houston - Santa Fe

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Learjet 25

Registration

N999BH

MSN

25-318

Year of Manufacture

1980