Kansas City - Albuquerque

The pilot and one passenger were on a business trip in the US from canada. The pilot had the aircraft fuel tanks 'topped off' prior to departure from Kansas City. The flight plan indicated 3 hours 30 min enroute to Albuquerque with 5 hours 30 min of fuel on board. Strong enroute winds and turbulence were forecast along the route of flight. The actual flight was 4.4 hrs. The aircraft crashed while turning from base leg to final at the Albuquerque Intl Airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of fuel in or around the aircraft. The manufacturer recommends using the main tanks for 90 minutes before switching to any aux tank to prevent venting of return fuel overboard. Vented fuel will diminish fuel supply. Both occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Kansas City - Albuquerque

Registration

C-GVDG

MSN

421A-0067

Year of Manufacture

1968

Date

March 25, 1988 at 06:01 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Albuquerque-Sunport New Mexico

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

35.0484°, -106.6168°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On March 25, 1988 at 06:01 PM, Kansas City - Albuquerque experienced a crash involving Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I, operated by Starcraft Aviation, with the event recorded near Albuquerque-Sunport New Mexico.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The pilot and one passenger were on a business trip in the US from canada. The pilot had the aircraft fuel tanks 'topped off' prior to departure from Kansas City. The flight plan indicated 3 hours 30 min enroute to Albuquerque with 5 hours 30 min of fuel on board. Strong enroute winds and turbulence were forecast along the route of flight. The actual flight was 4.4 hrs. The aircraft crashed while turning from base leg to final at the Albuquerque Intl Airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of fuel in or around the aircraft. The manufacturer recommends using the main tanks for 90 minutes before switching to any aux tank to prevent venting of return fuel overboard. Vented fuel will diminish fuel supply. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration C-GVDG, MSN 421A-0067, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.0484°, -106.6168°.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

1

Passengers

1

Other

0

Crash Summary

The pilot and one passenger were on a business trip in the US from canada. The pilot had the aircraft fuel tanks 'topped off' prior to departure from Kansas City. The flight plan indicated 3 hours 30 min enroute to Albuquerque with 5 hours 30 min of fuel on board. Strong enroute winds and turbulence were forecast along the route of flight. The actual flight was 4.4 hrs. The aircraft crashed while turning from base leg to final at the Albuquerque Intl Airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of fuel in or around the aircraft. The manufacturer recommends using the main tanks for 90 minutes before switching to any aux tank to prevent venting of return fuel overboard. Vented fuel will diminish fuel supply. Both occupants were killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

1

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Kansas City - Albuquerque

Flight Type

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

C-GVDG

MSN

421A-0067

Year of Manufacture

1968