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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 9, 1988 · Piper PA-24-180 · N7228P

Albuquerque, NM

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 9, 1988
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 serious injuries)
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-180
Tail Number
N7228P
Operator
Powell Ralph
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN89FA010

PLT-RATED PAX TOLD PLT, CORONADO ARPT 'IN SIGHT'. PLT WAS SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE LORAN INDICATED ARPT WAS 3 MI AWAY BUT TRUSTED FORMER INSTRUMENT STUDENT'S JUDGMENT & LANDED AT CLOSED ALAMEDA ARPT INSTEAD OF CORONADO ARPT. CORONADO UNICOM HAD TOLD PLT 'MULTIPLE BALLOONS IN AREA, FAVORING RWY 17.' PLT SAW TWO BALLOONS WHILE ON FINAL APCH. THE PLT SAID HE SAW A 'STARBURST' ON THE RWY BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS AN 'X' PAINTED OVER THE NOS 17 ON THE RWY, INDICATING A CLOSED RUNWAY, UNTIL AFTER HE FLARED. PLT ABORTED LANDING & ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. AS ACFT LIFTED OFF, PLT SAW HOT AIR BALLOON DIRECTLY AHEAD & VEERED RIGHT SHARPLY TO AVOID COLLISION. STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED CONTINOUSLY AS THE PLT TRIED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, FLEW UNDER POWERLINES, HIT A CHAIN LINK FENCE, & CRASHED INTO A PARKED TRUCK TRAILER 1/4 MI FROM ARPT. CLOSED ARPT RWY WAS NOT PROPERLY MARKED AS SUGGESTED BY FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR.

Full Narrative

PLT-RATED PAX TOLD PLT, CORONADO ARPT 'IN SIGHT'. PLT WAS SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE LORAN INDICATED ARPT WAS 3 MI AWAY BUT TRUSTED FORMER INSTRUMENT STUDENT'S JUDGMENT & LANDED AT CLOSED ALAMEDA ARPT INSTEAD OF CORONADO ARPT. CORONADO UNICOM HAD TOLD PLT 'MULTIPLE BALLOONS IN AREA, FAVORING RWY 17.' PLT SAW TWO BALLOONS WHILE ON FINAL APCH. THE PLT SAID HE SAW A 'STARBURST' ON THE RWY BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS AN 'X' PAINTED OVER THE NOS 17 ON THE RWY, INDICATING A CLOSED RUNWAY, UNTIL AFTER HE FLARED. PLT ABORTED LANDING & ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. AS ACFT LIFTED OFF, PLT SAW HOT AIR BALLOON DIRECTLY AHEAD & VEERED RIGHT SHARPLY TO AVOID COLLISION. STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED CONTINOUSLY AS THE PLT TRIED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, FLEW UNDER POWERLINES, HIT A CHAIN LINK FENCE, & CRASHED INTO A PARKED TRUCK TRAILER 1/4 MI FROM ARPT. CLOSED ARPT RWY WAS NOT PROPERLY MARKED AS SUGGESTED BY FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 MDT
Nearest AirportALAMEDA (0nm S)
Runway17
Runway Length6080 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-180
Tail NumberN7228P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPowell Ralph
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious4
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 59 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 12 kt
Visibility60 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data