CARLSBAD, NM, USA
N9789S
GULFSTREAM AMERICAN 980(695)
THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1/2 MI SW OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 32L. THE RWY HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF WITH THE ACFT MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO AN AREA THAT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS. IT WAS A VERY DARK NIGHT WITH AN INDISTIGUISHABLE HORIZON SOUTHWESTWARD TOWARD THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS. THERE WERE TWO BRIGHTLY LIT SOFTBALL COMPLEXES LOCATED TO THE NORTH TOWARD THE CITY. A WEATHER STUDY INDICATED PROBABLE MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE & UP & DOWN DRAFTS BELOW 7,000 FT MSL, & LIGHT TO MODERATE WIND SHEAR FROM THE SURFACE UP TO 300 FT AGL. A WITNESS WHO SAW THE FIREBALL STATED SHE HAD LOST CONTROL OF HER CAR BECAUSE A GUST OF WIND PUSHED HER CAR INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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