Cessna 172RG accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico, April 24, 2002
On April 24, 2002 at about 4:09 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N6288R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico (Holloman Air Force Base 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 loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2002 · about 4:09 pm local time
- Place
- Alamogordo, New Mexico · Holloman Air Force Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N6288R · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the CFI and the private pilot no anomalies were noted during the pre-takeoff engine run-up. The air traffic control tower cleared the flight to takeoff from runway 07, at the runway 16 intersection. The private pilot initiated the takeoff roll with the flaps retracted and full fuel. According to a weather observation facility at the air base, at the time of the accident, the wind was from 340 degrees at 11 knots. The manifold pressure, rpm, and engine gauges were all within the set limits during the takeoff roll, and the airplane became airborne. However, once airborne the airplane did not gain airspeed. The pilots maneuvered the airplane into the wind and elected not to retract the landing gear. The CFI stated that he "sensed a lack of adequate power development." The private pilot ensured that the throttle was full forward, reduced the airplane's pitch attitude, and the "airspeed came back weakly;" however, when he increased the pitch attitude, the airspeed "immediately started falling away." The CFI tried a few different mixture settings; however, none increased the power output. The airplane was descending when the private pilot relinquished control of the airplane to the CFI. During the ensuing forced landing, the CFI maneuvered the airplane around a concrete block and landed it in a rough field. The airplane contacted a fence during the roll-out and came to a stop up-right. Post accident examination and test run of the engine did not reveal any anomalies.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,875 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 29, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 16 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 13, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,072.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 29.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,658 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HMN Alamogordo NM at 4:09 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 07, 12,800 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from HMN
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.
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.