Cessna 172RG accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 26, 1990
On May 26, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N6498R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CFI'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N6498R · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0187
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, (CFI), WAS PERFORMING A RENTAL CHECKOUT FOR A PRIVATE PILOT WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. THE CFI SAID HE USED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF, LIFTED OFF AT 56 KNOTS, AND CLIMBED AT 67 KNOTS. THESE PROCEDURES ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR NORMAL NOR SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE 50 FEET AGL. THE FLIGHT AREA IS OVER CITY STREETS, AND HAS POWERLINES AND PHONE WIRES EVERY BLOCK ACROSS THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE CFI SAID HE PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL YOKE TO RAISE THE NOSE, TO CLEAR WIRES. THE PLANE BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. HE SAID HE RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR BUT STRUCK WIRES DURING THIS ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THEM. THE CFI MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. HE SAID HE LOWERED THE GEAR, RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE WINGS WERE BENT. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000 FEET.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 827 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 665 as pilot in command; 280 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1AG (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coronado Air Center
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.