Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 21, 1986
On March 21, 1986 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N555EB, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- March 21, 1986 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N555EB · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7780376
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE SECOND ABORTED TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. THE PLT SAID THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND THAT THE ENG LOST POWER ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. GROUND WITNESSES SAID THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DOOR WAS OPEN AND THAT THE FLAPS WERE UP ON BOTH TAKEOFF ATTEMPTS. THE PLT SAID HE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND DEPLOYED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DOOR WAS OPEN, THE COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE ENGINE, AND THAT THE FLAPS WERE UP. CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT THE ACFT WAS 300 LBS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT. CALCULATIONS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE ACFT WOULD REQUIRE 2600 FT OF GROUND ROLL TO TAKE OFF, AND A TOTAL OF 4700 FT TO CLEAR A 50-FT OBSTACLE. THE RWY HAS A PUBLISHED LENGTH OF 4020 FT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 200 FT OF OVERRUN. THERE WERE TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY.
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
- Flight time: 434 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 408 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: FTW Forth Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,020 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ABQ, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 | 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.