Piper PA-28-140D accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 22, 1985
On November 22, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140D, registered N473FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- November 22, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140D · all PA-28-140Ds on the register
- Registration
- N473FL · registry record · serial 28-7125276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG LOST PWR SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, REQUIRING THE PLT TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PLT HAD FLOWN INTO, AND LATER ATTEMPTED TO DEPART FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NM, WITH THE MIXTURE FULL RICH. DURING THE ENG INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED. DURING THE END TEST RUN, THE ENG FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE PLUGS WERE CLEANED.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,174 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 975 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1985; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC Albuquerque NM at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.