Cessna 152 accident near Belen, New Mexico, March 27, 2002
On March 27, 2002 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6595L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Muni 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
the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with a fence. Contributing factors were the tailwind, high density altitude, and the pilot's selection of a downwind runway for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2002 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6595L · no longer on the register · serial 15284454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff climb, approximately 200 feet agl, the engine "lost power," and the airplane experienced an excessive sink rate. The pilot attempted to land the airplane on the remaining 2,000 to 3,000 feet of the runway; however, the airplane exited the end of the runway and struck a fence. Witnesses reported that the airplane took off from the 6,601-foot runway after a 3,400-foot ground roll with a 20-knot quartering tailwind. One witness stated that the engine was operating "under full power after it had touched down." The fuel tanks, which were topped off prior to departure, were sumped, and the fuel samples were found to be clear of contaminants. The engine was then started and run at various power settings for 5 minutes with no anomalies noted. The calculated density altitude at the airport at the time of the accident 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: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,820.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aircraft Exchange
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM at 3:45 pm
- Destination: INW Winslow AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,601 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point -2°F (-19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from abq
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N6595L 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.