Piper PA-28-180 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 26, 1984
On June 26, 1984 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N44017, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1984 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N44017 · registry record · serial 28 7405217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT'S ELT SUDDENLY ACTIVATED. THE PLT MADE AN UNPLANNED LANDING AT LAGUNA, NM TO CORRECT THE ELT PROBLEM, THEN HE CONTINUED ON TO CORONADO ARPT AT ALBUQUERQUE, NM. HE SAID THIS INCIDENT MADE HIM TENSE. AFTER RECEIVING RADAR VECTORS TO THE ARPT, APCH CONTROL ISSUED A LAST MINUTE WARNING THAT RWY 17/35 (THE MAIN RWY) WAS CLOSED AT CORONADO. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE ON THE CORONADO UNICOM FREQ; HOWEVER, BASED ON AN ADVISORY TO ANOTHER ACFT, HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 21. DURING THE APCH, THE ACFT WAS HIGH & FAST. IT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. THE PLT RAISED THE FLAPS & APPLIED BRAKES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE AS FAST AS HE EXPECTED. TO AVOID HITTING A FENCE NEAR THE END OF THE RWY, HE APPLIED LEFT BRAKE & RUDDER & THE ACFT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE, HIT SAND & NOSED DOWN WHEN THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,041 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 2,014 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 70E Laguna at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.