On January 28, 1996, a Boeing B75N1 (registration N69808) operated by Trans Mountain Air, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Bernal, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's improper planning/decision, including his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from mountainous terrain to compensate for altitude deviations that resulted from mountain wave/wind conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a cross-country flight at 500-1,000 feet AGL, severe turbulence prevented altitude maintenance, leading to collision with trees. The pilot walked three miles to a highway after receiving a weather briefing warning of high winds and moderate to severe turbulence.
Overview
A pilot conducting a cross-country flight encountered severe turbulence while cruising at an altitude between 500 and 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL). According to the pilot, the turbulence rendered him unable to maintain altitude, resulting in the aircraft colliding with trees in mountainous terrain. The pilot subsequently walked approximately three miles to the nearest highway.
Flight Details
The flight was en route across country when the turbulence occurred. Prior to departure, the pilot had received a weather briefing that indicated high winds and moderate to severe turbulence were possible along the entire route of flight. Despite this information, the aircraft continued into conditions that led to the loss of altitude control.
Aftermath
Following the collision with trees, the pilot exited the aircraft and traversed rugged terrain on foot to reach a highway. No additional details were provided regarding the condition of the aircraft or the pilot beyond the successful trek to the road.