Fairchild SW3 accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, August 31, 2008
On August 31, 2008 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Fairchild SW3, registered N2699Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Carlsbad, New Mexico (Cavern City Air Trml airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the door to remain secure for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2008 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, New Mexico · Cavern City Air Trml · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SW3
- Registration
- N2699Y · registry record · serial AC666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to his destination, the 12,250-hour airline transport pilot experienced variations in the airplane's cabin pressure. The pilot removed his noise-cancelling headset and was able to detect an air leak from the area of the entrance door. Moments later, the airplane encountered turbulence and the door departed the airplane causing substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot declared an emergency and was able to land at the nearest suitable airfield. During his preflight inspection, the pilot, who reported 5,200 hours in make and model, secured the door "normally," but could not recall if he visually confirmed that the door was secured. The fuselage door frame did not display signs of deformation where the entrance door's bayonets seat into the door frame. The door was not recovered and an examination for mechanical failure could not be conducted.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Entrance stairs › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,250 hours in all; 5,200 in this make and model; 228 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30,488.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2008; 64.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 7:06 pm
- Destination: CNM Carlsbad NM
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 7:44 pm from CNM, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.