Piper PA-18-150 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 8, 1992
On November 8, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4069Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). It was an instructional 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4069Z · registry record · serial 18-8079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI (CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR) WAS GIVING THE PRIVATE PILOT A CHECKOUT IN A TAIL WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. THE CFI REPORTED WINDS AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE WHILE THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THEY WERE FROM 160 DEGREES GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS PROCEEDED BY SEVERAL GOOD LANDINGS, BUT THAT DURING THE ACCIDENT LANDING, THE PILOT USED RUDDER PEDALS EXCESSIVELY. THE PILOT STATED THAT WIND CAUSED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THAT AFTER ALIGNING THE AIRPLANE ON CENTERLINE, THE CFI INSTRUCTED HIM TO LOCK THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUNWAY. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 05/11/93.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 561 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 460 as pilot in command; 55 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Double Eagle Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: AEG at 8:00 pm
- Destination: AEG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N4069Z 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.