'Mayday' call preceded fatal Westwind crash

Less than 30 sec before a Westwind 1124A crashed while on the VOR/DME-B approach to Taos (N.M.) Municipal Airport on November 8, controllers heard “mayday” four times in quick succession. Both pilots, the only ones aboard, were killed when the twinjet hit terrain after passing the initial approach fix. The accident occurred in day VMC. The aircraft, N61RS, was registered to Abrams Aviation of Auburn, Ala., and operated by Richmor Aviation of Hudson, N.Y. The flight originated from Las Vegas two hours earlier and was destined for Taos to pick up a passenger.