Cessna 172A accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 28, 2008
On August 28, 2008 at about 3:29 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N6539B, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper glide angle during the landing approach which resulted in a collision with a pole. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of qualification, experience and the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2008 · about 3:29 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N6539B · no longer on the register · serial 47730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness at the airport observed the airplane at a very low altitude on final approach. The right wing of the airplane collided with a pole on final approach resulting in a loss of control. The airplane came to rest about 100-feet short of the approach end of the runway. The FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site following the mishap, confirmed flight and engine control continuity was established at the accident site. No anomalies were found with the engine or airframe that could have prevented normal flight operations. The passenger, who occupied the right front seat of the airplane, was a rated pilot; however, he had not flown for over 8 years and was not current. He stated that he was not aware that the pilot was not a rated pilot. Despite several attempts, the non-certificated pilot, or the owner of the airplane, failed to return a completed NTSB Form 6120.1 to the requesting investigator-in-charge. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the airplane was owned by his son and he had accumulated a total of 38 flight hours on the accident airplane. The field elevation was 5,837 feet MSL. The investigator in charge calculated the density altitude to be 7618 feet at the time of the landing. The winds at the airport were reported as calm at the time of the accident.
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
- Altitude deviation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Glide › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,574 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tuscon AZ
- Destination: KAEG Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KAEG
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.