Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 11, 1993
On March 11, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N3207C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS HIS POSSIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N3207C · no longer on the register · serial CH205L0691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE STATED THAT AS HE TURNED FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE, HE WAS UNABLE TO ROLL OUT OF THE LEFT TURN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE RUDDER DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN THE LEFT BANK UNTIL IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WERE MOUNTAINS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT AND TOWERING CUMULUS WAS REPORTED IN THE WESTERN, NORTHERN, AND EASTERN QUADRANTS OVER THE MOUNTAINS. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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: 209 hours in all; 18 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 505 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 4AC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from ABQ, 10 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.