History of Flight
On April 8, 2019, at about 1538 mountain daylight time, a Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam P2002 Sierra light sport airplane, registration N118LS, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The aircraft was on a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight with a flight instructor and a student pilot aboard, both of whom sustained fatal injuries.
The flight was conducting a touch-and-go landing. A witness near the departure end of the runway observed the airplane failing to climb significantly before it appeared to "go sideways" and "nosedived sideways into the ground." Surveillance camera footage showed the airplane departing from runway 33, stopping its climb, then exhibiting a drop of the right wing and entering a steep nose-down attitude before impacting the ground. A postimpact fire ensued.
Personnel
The flight instructor, aged 72, held a flight instructor certificate with a rating for airplane single engine, as well as a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, instrument airplane, and glider. His most recent second-class FAA medical certificate, issued December 21, 2018, included a limitation for corrective lenses. He reported 10,589 total flight hours, with 291 hours in the preceding six months.
The student pilot held an FAA third-class medical and student pilot certificate issued June 15, 2001, which expired after June 30, 2003. He reported 60 total flight hours with no flight time in the previous six months.
Aircraft
The low-wing Tecnam P2002 Sierra was powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 UL S2 series reciprocating engine equipped with a GT Propellers fixed-pitch propeller. The most recent condition inspection was completed on February 1, 2019, at an airframe total time of 1,962.5 hours and an engine time of 491.7 hours.
Meteorological Information
At 1453, weather recorded at Santa Fe Regional Airport included wind from 240° at 6 knots with gusts to 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 23°C, dew point 8°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was about 8,600 feet. No forecasts for moderate turbulence or low-level windshear were active, and no AIRMETS, SIGMETS, or significant weather advisories were in effect. A weather sounding model indicated no turbulence other than gusting wind at the accident location.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane first impacted terrain approximately 527 feet northeast of the departure end of runway 33, at an elevation of about 6,303 feet. All major components were within the main wreckage site, with debris scattered up to 100 feet away. The first identified point of contact was a disturbed dirt area containing pieces of green position light lens, located about 91 feet from the main wreckage. A subsequent ground disturbance held propeller splinters and a partial blade. Ground scars led to the main wreckage along a debris path oriented on a magnetic heading of about 005°. The fuselage came to rest upright on a heading of approximately 175° magnetic. A postimpact fire consumed the left wing and cabin area.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological
Autopsies conducted by the Santa Fe County Coroner’s Office determined that both pilots’ cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries." Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory on the instructor yielded negative results for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and all tested drugs. For the student pilot, toxicology was negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol but detected tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in blood and urine, as well as pioglitazone in blood. Pioglitazone is a prescription medication used for treating type 2 diabetes.