Piper PA46-500TP accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024 at about 10:50 pm local time, a 2008 Piper PA46-500TP, registered N26DR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque Intl Sunport airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control during landing due to a flat tire. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to replace the worn tire in a timely manner.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2024 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque Intl Sunport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46-500TP, built 2008 · all PA46-500TPs on the register
- Registration
- N26DR · registry record · serial 4697358
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was on a training flight when, during the third landing, he felt the airplane pull to the right and start vibrating upon touchdown. He attempted to correct to the left, but the airplane continued to the right, exited the runway, and then turned back to the left before stopping. The right aileron was substantially damaged during the event. The right tire was found deflated. Examination of the deflated tire found it was worn with little remaining tread. The exact location of a leak could not be determined due to damage to the tire. The tire was installed about 20 months and 375 flight hours prior to the accident. The number of landings on the tire was not determined. The pilot stated he thought there was sufficient tread remaining on the tire prior to the flight and he intended to replace the tire during the next annual inspection. It is likely the worn tire deflated prior to the accident landing due to excessive wear.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 981 hours in all; 323 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 940 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 5,134 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-42A (turboprop); 1,962 hours total
- Operator: Pepper Equipment CORP
The flight
- Departed from: BRG Belen NM at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Tire Examination Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.