Accident Overview
On June 8, 2018, at approximately 0753 mountain daylight time, an Aerovodochody L29 Deflin airplane, registration N4323N, was substantially damaged during a visual approach to Moriarty Airport (0E0) in Moriarty, New Mexico. The pilot and a flight instructor aboard sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The local flight departed around 0745 in day visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had recently purchased the single-engine, turbine-powered trainer and was receiving his second training flight. After takeoff, the aircraft entered a traffic pattern for Runway 26. On final approach, the flight instructor noted the airplane descending below the glide path with slow airspeed and instructed the pilot to increase engine power. When the engine did not respond as expected, the instructor assumed control and applied full power. The airplane continued to descend and impacted the ground approximately half a mile short of the runway threshold, damaging both wings.
Post-Accident Statements
The flight instructor stated that he had "let his guard down" during the final approach and had not intervened quickly enough as the airplane descended. He was aware of the engine's "slow spool up" characteristic and considered this, along with high-density altitude conditions, as factors in his inability to counteract the sink rate after applying full power. The pilot did not recall details of the final approach due to a concussion sustained in the accident. Although he had previous military experience as a navigator, he was not experienced in piloting turbine-powered airplanes. The flight instructor was unaware that the pilot's military flight experience was as a navigator rather than a pilot.