Cessna 210 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 27, 2002
On April 27, 2002 at about 1:15 am local time, a Cessna 210, registered N6394B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque Intl. Sunport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions resulting in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2002 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque Intl. Sunport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N6394B · registry record · serial 57459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the initial touchdown on runway 21, in day visual meteorological conditions, the airplane became airborne and "in an instant later slammed on the nose wheel." The nose landing gear tire had a "blow-out," and the airplane slid to a stop. The pilot reported that during the landing, the wind was from 190 degrees at 27 knots gusting to 39 knots. The weather observation facility at the airport reported the wind from 200 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 36 knots.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,935 hours in all; 712 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 8,706 as pilot in command; 1,430 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 12, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,015.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 6, 2002; 17.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mountain Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 27 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 84°F (29°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.