Amateur-built FALCON XC accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 8, 1993
On June 8, 1993 at about 3:20 pm local time, a amateur-built FALCON XC, registered N687RD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 EXTRANEOUS AND UNCOMMANDED ROLL AND YAW DEVIATIONS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE AIRPLANE DESIGN WHICH PRECLUDED THE PILOT FROM TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION AND LED TO THE ENSUING HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1993 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Double Eagle II · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FALCON XC
- Registration
- N687RD · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/BUILDER STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED UNCOMMANDED AND UNCONTROLLABLE ROLL AND YAW DIVERSIONS AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED THROUGH GROUND EFFECT AFTER TAKEOFF ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD TO THE RIGHT OF THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE GEAR AND WINGS COLLAPSED. IN HIS ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROTOTYPE DESIGN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 3, 1993; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honda 1500 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AEG at 3:20 pm
- Destination: AEG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 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.