- Date
- December 31, 1994, 17:25 local (Jan 1, 1995, 00:25 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6106WCessna P210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941231000039A
- Case key
- 19330
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot did not align the aircraft with the runway. Factors were the dusk light conditions and the pilot's failure to activate the pilot controlled runway lights.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot inadvertently landed the airplane in a grassy area between the runway and the taxiway at dusk. During rollout, the airplane impacted a taxiway embankment, resulting in a loss of control. The pilot of the airplane landing behind the accident airplane stated that the pilot controlled lights for the runway were off during the accident.
Factual narrative
On December 31, 1994, at 1725 mountain standard time, a Cessna P210N, N6106W, was substantially damaged while landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal night cross country flight.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the flight originated in Monterey, Mexico, with an intermediate stop in El Paso, Texas, to clear customs and refuel the airplane.
Upon arrival at their destination, the pilot executed a visual approach to Runway 17 at the Coronado Airport. According to the passenger, the airplane touched down very smoothly in the grassy area between the active runway and the parallel taxiway. The passenger stated that he unbuckled his seat belt as soon as the airplane touched down. After rolling for approximately 300 feet, control was lost after the airplane impacted a taxiway embankment.
Official sunset was 1705. The airport was equipped with pilot controlled lighting. The pilot of a Luscombe landing behind N6106W, stated that the runway lights were off at the time of the accident, and he had to activate the system prior to his landing.
Blank copies of NTSB Form 6120.1/2 were mailed to the pilot on two occasions. None were returned.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6106W
- Reported as
- Cessna P210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- P21000716
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-P, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gravel Oil & Butane Co., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Departed
- ELP · El Paso, TX
- Destination
- 4AC · NM
- Airport
- 4AC · Coronado Airport, runway 17, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 21,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABQ, 10 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.