Amateur-built FALCON AA-1A accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, September 26, 1982
On September 26, 1982 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built FALCON AA-1A, registered N33FN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico. It was an instructional 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1982 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Los Lunas, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FALCON AA-1A FALCON AA-
- Registration
- N33FN · no longer on the register · serial AA1A000002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FLYING A HOME BUILT, ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT WHICH HAD BEEN ISSUED AN AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 1100 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE AND FLIPPED OVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SINGLE IGNITION SYSTEM HAD RENDERED IT INOPERATIVE. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT HIS FIVE-POINT SEAT BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS SYSTEM PREVENTED PERSONAL INJURY DURING 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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 128 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Aero Lights INC.
The flight
- Departed from: E98 Los Lunas NM at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 4AC Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 172°F (78°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.