# NTSB DEN87FA043: American Aerolights Falcon C, N918AA, Albuquerque, NM, January 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1987, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA043

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT INITIATED A STEEP NOSE UP LEFT CLIMBING TURN TO APPROXIMATELY 300 FT AGL WHERE THE ACFT STALLED. IT ENTERED A SPIN AND DESCENDED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE STUDENT PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N918AA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AEROLIGHTS FALCON C
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: AA1A000003
- Airframe hours: 222
- Engines: ROTAX 503 45 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William R. Ross
- Registered owner: William R. Ross
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 1985, 80 hours before
- Departed: 4AC, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Airport: 4AC, Coronado, runway 21, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; student; medical: class 3, expired; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 278 total, 278 in this make and model, 278 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 9 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870118000599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870118000599A), Jan 18, 1987: Amd FALCONC, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft spun into the ground during a pull up after takeoff. Student pilot.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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