Cessna 182A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 31, 2003
On October 31, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N5127D, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat and his inadequate flare resulting in a loss of engine power and a hard landing. Also causal was the inadequate supervision of the flight. Carburetor icing conditions was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N5127D · no longer on the register · serial 51227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In the pattern for runway 22, the instructor pulled the throttle to idle and applied the carburetor heat to simulate an engine failure. The student established an airspeed of 75 mph and turned towards the runway. Approximately 100 feet agl, the airplane encountered "a heavy sink rate." The instructor stated that the stall horn did not sound and the bank angle was shallow. The student added power "rapidly"; however, the engine did not respond. The airplane struck the runway on the main gear. It bounced and struck the runway again, separating the nose gear, sending the airplane skidding on its nose. A postimpact fire ensued, consuming the fuselage.Temperature was 62 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and dew point was 32 degrees F. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point were right on the edge of serious icing conditions at glide power.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,238 hours in all; 484 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 3,024 as pilot in command; 2,282 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 136 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,596 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AEG Albuquerque NM at 10:00 pm
- Destination: NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from AEG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.