Amateur-built Challenger II accident near Edgewood, New Mexico, September 5, 2007
On September 5, 2007 at about 5:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Challenger II, registered N41734, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgewood, New Mexico (Sandia Airpark Estates East airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of aircraft control after encountering a dust devil.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2007 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewood, New Mexico · Sandia Airpark Estates East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Challenger II
- Registration
- N41734 · no longer on the register · serial CH2-0202-2187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that approximately 100 feet above ground level, at the departure end of the runway, the airplane began to yaw to the right. The pilot stated that he added left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane did not respond. The airplane continued to yaw to the right, the nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airplane flight controls and systems revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The pilot reported that he may have encountered a dust devil. Multiple dust devils were observed in the area within 2 hours of the accident.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,113 hours in all; 276 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 924 as pilot in command; 184 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 308 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 203UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N1 Edgewood NM at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 1N1 Edgewood NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,830 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from CQC, 25 miles away
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.