Cessna 152 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 15, 1987
On April 15, 1987 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5280Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 15, 1987 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5280Q · no longer on the register · serial 15285095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS PRACTICING UNSUPERVISED SOLO FLT IN GUSTY CROSS WINDS. HE BECAME DISTRACTED ON TAKEOFF AND FAILED TO CORRECT FOR A LEFT DRIFT. AT THIS POINT HE HAD TAKEN OUT ALL AILERON CORRECTION AND WHEN THE LEFT WING CAME UP, HE ALSO ADDED LEFT RUDDER. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BY FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE. THROTTLE WAS NOT REDUCED AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RWY SEVERAL TIMES. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A RWY LIGHT. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE FROM A SMALL RISE AND FLEW INTO THE CORNER OF A HANGAR, CAUSING PROPELLER CONTACT WITH THE HANGAR WALL. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AFTER REBOUNDING FROM THE HANGAR.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1986; 154 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-230-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Double Eagle Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,020 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from ABQ, 16 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.