Cessna 152 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 16, 1990
On March 16, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4590P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal 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 FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4590P · registry record · serial 15284774
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE QUIT THREE HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT SAID HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT KEEP IT RUNNING. THE PILOT SELECTED ROUGH TERRAIN, WITH ROLLING HILLS, COVERED BY BRUSH, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR WAS TORN OFF, THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS CONTAINED ONLY TRACES OF FUEL. THE PILOT ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD. HOWEVER, WHEN HE SAW COWS ON THE ROAD HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE ROUGH TERRAIN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 3:15 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N4590P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.