Narrative:

The left engine on small transport started running rough. At this time I was 20 mi north of carrizozo, NM. I chose to shut the engine down to keep it from being damaged. I reported this to ZAB on frequency 132.65. I stated that I did not want to declare an emergency. Center wanted me to land at moriarty airport and I declined because there are no lights. At this time I was southwest of mountain air, NM, trying to gain altitude to clear the pass. It became questionable whether I would clear. I did by about 50'. After clearing, center handed me over to 126.3 at alb int. They requested that I land at mid valley airport in los lunas, NM. I declined because I knew that I had runway 25 made at the int'l. My tongue was rather thick because I was in a very excited state from my situation. Upon landing safely on runway 35, I requested a 180 degree turn so I could taxi to new mexico flying service. As I executed the turn to taxi the right engine died. At this time I was surrounded by many vehicles. Because of my excited state I reached into my flight case for my flask to calm my nerves. When I got out of the plane I was told to put my hands in the air way over my head. The police had their guns drawn and I had no idea of what was going on. While I was being frisked I stated that this is what I got for staying alive. After thinking this over the tower thought I was inebriated during our conversation because, believe me, I was frightened and stressed to my limits. The police brought dogs and checked out the airplane, nothing was found. I have been flying freight for 9 1/2 yrs. It has been my experience that most of the freight companies I have flown for do not provide maintenance to safely operate the equipment. By equipment I mean from the ground up. I suggest that tighter restrictions be put on such companies so other pilots will not have to go thru such experiences.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT HAD ROUGH ENGINE. SHUT DOWN, CONTINUED FLT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN TO SAFE LNDG.

Narrative: THE LEFT ENGINE ON SMT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. AT THIS TIME I WAS 20 MI N OF CARRIZOZO, NM. I CHOSE TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN TO KEEP IT FROM BEING DAMAGED. I REPORTED THIS TO ZAB ON FREQ 132.65. I STATED THAT I DID NOT WANT TO DECLARE AN EMER. CENTER WANTED ME TO LAND AT MORIARTY ARPT AND I DECLINED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO LIGHTS. AT THIS TIME I WAS SW OF MOUNTAIN AIR, NM, TRYING TO GAIN ALT TO CLEAR THE PASS. IT BECAME QUESTIONABLE WHETHER I WOULD CLEAR. I DID BY ABOUT 50'. AFTER CLEARING, CENTER HANDED ME OVER TO 126.3 AT ALB INT. THEY REQUESTED THAT I LAND AT MID VALLEY ARPT IN LOS LUNAS, NM. I DECLINED BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I HAD RWY 25 MADE AT THE INT'L. MY TONGUE WAS RATHER THICK BECAUSE I WAS IN A VERY EXCITED STATE FROM MY SITUATION. UPON LNDG SAFELY ON RWY 35, I REQUESTED A 180 DEG TURN SO I COULD TAXI TO NEW MEXICO FLYING SERVICE. AS I EXECUTED THE TURN TO TAXI THE RIGHT ENGINE DIED. AT THIS TIME I WAS SURROUNDED BY MANY VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF MY EXCITED STATE I REACHED INTO MY FLT CASE FOR MY FLASK TO CALM MY NERVES. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE PLANE I WAS TOLD TO PUT MY HANDS IN THE AIR WAY OVER MY HEAD. THE POLICE HAD THEIR GUNS DRAWN AND I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. WHILE I WAS BEING FRISKED I STATED THAT THIS IS WHAT I GOT FOR STAYING ALIVE. AFTER THINKING THIS OVER THE TWR THOUGHT I WAS INEBRIATED DURING OUR CONVERSATION BECAUSE, BELIEVE ME, I WAS FRIGHTENED AND STRESSED TO MY LIMITS. THE POLICE BROUGHT DOGS AND CHECKED OUT THE AIRPLANE, NOTHING WAS FOUND. I HAVE BEEN FLYING FREIGHT FOR 9 1/2 YRS. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT MOST OF THE FREIGHT COMPANIES I HAVE FLOWN FOR DO NOT PROVIDE MAINT TO SAFELY OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT. BY EQUIPMENT I MEAN FROM THE GND UP. I SUGGEST THAT TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS BE PUT ON SUCH COMPANIES SO OTHER PLTS WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THRU SUCH EXPERIENCES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.