Cessna R172E (T-41C) accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 17, 2006
On May 17, 2006 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna R172E (T-41C), registered N7898N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque Intl. Sunport 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A contributing factor was the wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2006 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque Intl. Sunport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172E (T-41C) · all R172E (T-41C)s on the register
- Registration
- N7898N · no longer on the register · serial R172-0289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed and turned left onto a taxiway. When he stopped to call ground control, he noticed blowing dust nearby. The airplane began to buffet. Suddenly, the airplane was overturned by a wind gust.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 274 hours in all; 268 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,257 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-DB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: United State Air Force
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.