Eclipse Aviation HXB accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 3, 2005
On September 3, 2005 at about 5:52 pm local time, a Eclipse Aviation HXB, registered N505EA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque International Sunp airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to complete the before landing checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2005 · about 5:52 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque International Sunp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eclipse Aviation HXB
- Registration
- N505EA · registry record · serial 005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that on downwind for runway 03, he was asked by the tower to "fly a short approach for spacing." The pilot deviated from his normal checklist habit pattern and he admitted that he "forgot to lower the landing gear and complete the landing checklist." Due to the developmental nature of the Eclipse 500, the landing gear warning system was not operational at the time of the accident. While the airplane was skidding to a stop on the runway, the pilot shut down both engines. Post accident examination by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the bottom of the composite fuselage.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,450 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- 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: 1,400 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command; 940 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 1, 2005; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney 6/0 F/A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney 6/0 F/A (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 4:52 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 03, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.