Navion NA1 accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, May 24, 1996
On May 24, 1996, a Navion NA1, registered N2530T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain 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
- May 24, 1996
- Place
- Los Lunas, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion NA1
- Registration
- N2530T · no longer on the register · serial 4-2524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the forced landing following a loss of engine power, the pilot reported stalling the airplane while maneuvering to clear houses and trees. The right fuel tank and the main tank contained fuel, and when the pilot selected the right fuel tank the engine 'sputtered and died.' He selected the main fuel tank and turned the fuel boost pump to the 'HIGH' position (which had restarted the engine during a loss of power on a previous flight); however, this time the engine did not restart. Following the previous loss of engine power, the owner found no discrepancies with the airplane. An engine test run, following this accident, did not reveal any discrepancies that would have contributed to a loss of engine power.
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: 510 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 481 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1995; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 11:30 pm
- Destination: LRU Las Cruces NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.