Piper PA-24-180 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 14, 1989
On January 14, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N5983P, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE STOPPAGE FROM FUEL STARVATION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT THE FULLEST TANK FOR TAKEOFF. IN ADDITION THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE DESCENDING TURN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5983P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1076
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, THE STALL HORN ACTIVATED DURING THE TURN AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WHICH CONTAINED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL.
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
- Flight time: 268 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC Albuquerque NM at 5:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.