What happened
On May 23, 2014, a Raytheon G36 bearing registration N536G crashed into terrain near Silver City, New Mexico. The flight, which was operating as a personal flight under Part 91, departed from Whiskey Creek Airport (9/4E) at 15:36.
Witnesses observed the aircraft performing a tight downwind approach for runway 35. During the base leg, the pilot executed a steep turn of at least 60 degrees of bank, which caused the aircraft to overshoot the final approach centerline. The airplane touched down on the runway, bounced, and settled. The pilot then applied full power to attempt a rejected landing.
After the takeoff from the runway, the aircraft began a slight right turn. During the climb, the airplane's roll rate increased sharply, and it entered a descent that was consistent with a stall. The aircraft struck a transmission wire and impacted the desert terrain, resulting in a post-impact fire. There were 4 fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of N536G and found no preimpact anomalies in the airframe or the engine. The engine, a Continental Motors IO-550-B, was found separated from the airframe due to the impact, but both magnetos produced sparks and the fuel system was unobstructed. The landing gear was found in the down position, and the flaps were up.
Data recovered from a Garmin Oregon 450t GPS confirmed the aircraft's flight path, noting that the airplane touched down at a groundspeed of 100 knots—approximately 20 knots above the manufacturer's published approach speed.
Meteorological analysis revealed that the environment was conducive to dry microbursts, with potential for severe gusts. At the time of the accident, the airport reported winds from 270 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 28 knots. Several lightning strikes had also been detected within 10 miles of the site shortly before the crash.