Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico, July 18, 1993
On July 18, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N851BZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico. 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 SEIZURE OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT BEARING AND THE RESULTANT PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATION. FACTORS WERE THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alamogordo, 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 CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N851BZ · no longer on the register · serial CH20389R0406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO THE SEIZURE OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT BEARING. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT DOWNWIND FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE LANDING AREA AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TOP OF A BERM AND BOUNCED. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM THE WEST AT TEN KNOTS, GUSTING TO 17 KNOTS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,390 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from ALM, 1 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.