Cessna 180J accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 8, 1993
On March 8, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N7770K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). It was a personal 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
AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS VIBRATION IN THE TAILWHEEL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N7770K · registry record · serial 18052726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING AT A LOCAL AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN THE AIRPLANE ON A PREVIOUS LANDING, WHICH HE FELT ORIGINATED IN THE TAILWHEEL. THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE TAILWHEEL NUT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO PROCEED TO HIS NEXT DESTINATION AND DURING THE LANDING THE VIBRATION RECURRED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE TAILWHEEL REVEALED NO 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,057 hours in all; 674 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 985 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,187 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1992; 187 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (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 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N7770K 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.