North American SNJ-6 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 22, 2003
On May 22, 2003 at about 2:45 pm local time, a North American SNJ-6, registered N5485V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. Contributing factors include, the pressures induced on the pilot by the landing conditions and the asphalt walkway on the side of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2003 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American SNJ-6 · all SNJ-6s on the register
- Registration
- N5485V · registry record · serial 112007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on approach for runway 22 with another aircraft in the pattern, doing touch-and-go landings. The separation was adequate; however, the pilot said he felt the pressure of the aircraft following him. The landing was uneventful; however, in his haste to clear the runway, he relaxed the back pressure which allowed the tail to come back up. The airplane drifted to the left, departing the edge of the runway. The left main wheel struck an asphalt walkway, causing substantial damage to the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,078 hours in all; 46 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 21, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2002; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R 1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Sante Fe NM at 2:12 pm
- Destination: AEG Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from AEG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N5485V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN03LA084.