Cortesy, John E Airborne Edge-X accident near San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, May 21, 2008
On May 21, 2008 at about 2:36 am local time, a Cortesy, John E Airborne Edge-X, registered N8072S, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico (San Juan Pueblo Nm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2008 · about 2:36 am local time
- Place
- San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico · San Juan Pueblo Nm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cortesy, John E Airborne Edge-X
- Registration
- N8072S · no longer on the register · serial 200582300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated in an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that this was his first ever flight in this airplane with a passenger onboard. The pilot stated that he attempted a short field takeoff when the engine lost power at 50 feet. The pilot lost control during the emergency landing impacted on the runway, bounced traveled about 90 feet, impacted a second time, then slid approximately 260 feet coming to rest on southeast edge of the runway. There was substantial damage to the airplane and minor injuries to both occupants.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 276 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 261 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q14 Espanola NM at 2:36 am
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:36 am from KLAM, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.