Amateur-built AA-5A accident near Maljamar, New Mexico, June 2, 1988
On June 2, 1988 at about 2:20 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-5A, registered N1393R, was destroyed in an accident near Maljamar, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 2, 1988 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Maljamar, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-5A
- Registration
- N1393R · no longer on the register · serial AA5-0793
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN SLOW FLT AT LOW LEVEL ON A OIL PIPELINE PATROL DEMONSTRATION FLT, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE NOSE SUDDENLY DROPPED AND THE ACFT CRASHED IN A VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE ACCIDENT AND BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT FAILURE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,040 hours in all; 1,028 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 744 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1988; 196 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNM Carlsbad NM at 1:00 pm
- Destination: CNM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 pm from HOB, 10 miles away
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.