North American NAVION accident near Los Alamos, New Mexico, April 3, 1987
On April 3, 1987 at about 6:47 pm local time, a North American NAVION, registered N91735, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Alamos, New Mexico (Los Alamos airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- April 3, 1987 · about 6:47 pm local time
- Place
- Los Alamos, New Mexico · Los Alamos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N91735 · no longer on the register · serial NAV 4 491
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT WAS GIVING CROSS WIND INSTRUCTION TO A PRE-SOLO STUDENT PLT. DURING A CROSS WIND LANDING ATTEMPT, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BREAKING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE WINDS WERE OBSERVED AT THE TIME OF TOUCHDOWN TO BE 150 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS, A QUARTERING TAIL WIND FOR RWY 27. AFTER LANDING, THE ACFT SKIDDED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANDING AREA UNTIL COMING TO REST IN THE ARPT BOUNDARY FENCE.
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: 4,370 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4,370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,173 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E 225 4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 6:24 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,543 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from LAM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.