Piper PA-32-260 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 14, 1994
On October 14, 1994 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3699W, 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; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHILE ATTEMPTING FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER (WIND), AND HIS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND TURBULENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1994 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3699W · no longer on the register · serial 32-611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LOCAL WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM THE EAST AT 25 KNOTS GUSTING TO 50 KNOTS. THE PILOT EXTENDED THE FLAPS TO 25 DEGREES (2ND NOTCH) RATHER THAN USING 10 DEGREES (1ST NOTCH). DURING THE TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 3, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE IN GUSTY WINDS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT IT LIFTED OFF EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND GUSTY WINDS, AND DID NOT CLIMB. THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED BRUSH AND GRASS ON THE UPWIND SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT ABORTED THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON SOFT TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET FROM THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 5280 FEET, AND THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 52 DEGREES.
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: 1,110 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,058 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 1994; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AC at 12:10 pm
- Destination: LAM Los Alamos NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 25 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.