N6539BCessna 172A · 1961

On August 28, 2008, at approximately 0926 mountain daylight time, a single-engine Cessna 172A, N6539B, was substantially damaged while attempting to land on Runway 22 at the Double Eagle II Airport, (KAEG), near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while his passenger was seriously injured. The personal cross country flight originated at Tucson, Arizona, earlier that morning. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the flight. No flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Air Regulations Part 91 flight.

A witness at the airport that was conducting a run-up prior to takeoff reported that he observed the airplane in a shallow left turn, heading approximately to the southwest. He added that "the airplane was very, very low, and I would estimate less than 50 feet above the ground." He added that "I could not hear the engine of the aircraft, but the propeller appeared to be rotating normally and as the aircraft continued its turn southward to line up with [runway] 22, it dipped slightly below the visual horizon for just a split second. It then climbed up back into view and shortly thereafter the right wing of the airplane clipped a pole on the approach lights, at about 10 to 20 feet above the ground." The witness further stated that "a wing impacted the ground, causing the airplane to tumble several times and coming to rest about 100-feet short of the approach end of the runway." The witness alerted the airport of the mishap via the Unicom and proceeded to the accident site to provide assistance.

An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site following the mishap, reported that the 1961 model Cessna, serial number 172-47730, had accumulated a total of 4,574 hours since new. He also confirmed flight and engine control continuity was established at the accident site. Neither one of the fuel cells were compromised and fuel was found on both fuel cells. No anomalies were found with the engine or airframe that could have prevented normal flight operations. The passenger, who occupied the right front seat of the airplane, was a rated pilot; however, he had not flown for over 8 years and was not current. He stated that he was not aware that the pilot was not a rated pilot. He further stated that he was not involved in the planning or conduct of the flight. The passenger did not have any recollection of the accident sequence.

Despite several attempts, the non-certificated pilot, or the owner of the airplane, failed to return a completed NTSB Form 6120.1 to the requesting investigator-in-charge. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the airplane was owned by his son and he had accumulated a total of 38 flight hours on the accident airplane.

At the time of the accident, the weather at the airport was reported as calm winds, visibility 10 statue miles, temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, dew point at 10 degree Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of Mercury. The airfield elevation was 5,837 feet. The investigator in charge calculated the desnity altitude to be 7618 feet at the time of the landing.