Cessna 172N accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 14, 1992
On January 14, 1992 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4885G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Dougle Eagle II airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1992 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Dougle Eagle II
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4885G · registry record · serial 17273432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TWELVE HOUR STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF HIS AIRPLANE WHEN HE ADDED POWER FOR AN ATTEMPTED ABORTED LANDING ON HIS FIRST SOLO LANDING. THE AIRPLANE YAWED TO THE LEFT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DEGREES, AND CONTINUED TO FLY A FEW INCHES OFF THE GROUND UNTIL CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN GROUND ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER CROSSING A DRAINAGE DITCH, THE NOSE GEAR CAUGHT A RUT ON THE SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED.
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
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 30, 1991; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ABQ, 6 miles away
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.