NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Fatal Alamogordo Thanksgiving Plane Crash: More Details Emerge on Tragic Flight

Alamogordo, NM – December 17, 2025 – In a somber update to the heartbreaking aviation accident that claimed two lives just before Thanksgiving, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued its preliminary report on the November 26 crash of an American Aviation AA-1A airplane near High Rolls, New Mexico. As your trusted source for local news, 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News brings you the latest developments, building on our ongoing coverage of this community-shaking event.

The report, released earlier this week, paints a clearer picture of the final moments of the flight piloted by 73-year-old Ralph Guerin of Florida, with 40-year-old Patrick Cheung, also from Florida, as his passenger. As we previously reported on November 27, local pilots at Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport (ALM) spotted the small plane departing around 11:30 a.m., heading into what should have been a routine local flight. Tragically, the aircraft never returned, prompting a frantic search by authorities and family members.

According to the NTSB's findings, the plane – registered as N9439L and recently purchased by Guerin – departed ALM at approximately 11:32 a.m. under clear visual meteorological conditions. Weather data from the airport showed temperatures around 12°C, 10-mile visibility, and no significant wind or cloud issues that could have contributed to the incident. The wreckage was discovered the following morning, November 27, by New Mexico State Police, about 7 miles east of ALM on a rugged, ascending slope at 6,300 feet elevation near Cloudcroft. The site revealed a devastating scene: the plane had impacted treetops before crashing, with most of the aircraft consumed by a post-impact fire. All major components were accounted for at the site, and the wreckage has since been recovered for further examination.

This crash marked a painful end to what had been an ambitious cross-country journey for Guerin, who had earned his private pilot certificate just a month earlier. Flight records detailed in the report show the plane left Palm Beach County Park Airport in Florida on November 24, making stops in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and Carlsbad, New Mexico, before arriving in Alamogordo early on November 26. As we noted in our November 30 update, Guerin and Cheung – described by family as future in-laws, with Cheung set to marry Guerin's daughter – were pronounced dead at the scene. Alamogordo Mayor Susan Payne expressed the community's grief, stating, "Our hearts go out to the families during this difficult time. Alamogordo stands with them in solidarity."

While the NTSB report stops short of identifying a cause – emphasizing that the information is preliminary and subject to change – it notes no flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under Part 91 general aviation rules for personal use. Investigators, led by Albert Nixon, are continuing their work, with potential factors like pilot experience, aircraft maintenance, and terrain challenges under scrutiny. This incident echoes other recent aviation events in our region, including military crashes earlier this year that we covered extensively, highlighting the ongoing risks in New Mexico's diverse airspace.

The Alamogordo community remains deeply affected, with local aviation enthusiasts and residents sharing stories of the area's challenging mountainous terrain. As one local pilot told us in our initial reporting, "Flying here demands respect for the landscape – it's beautiful but unforgiving." Memorial services for Guerin and Cheung are pending, and we encourage readers to support the families through any announced funds or tributes.

Stay tuned to 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News for further updates as the NTSB investigation progresses. Our thoughts are with all impacted by this loss.

Sources:

• NTSB Preliminary Report: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202070/pdf
• 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News: Tragic Holiday Fatal Plane Crash Near Alamogordo (Nov 27, 2025)
• 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News: Alamogordo Plane Crash; Victims Identified, Mayor Susan Payne Expresses (Nov 30, 2025)
• 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News: Second Military Aircraft Crash in a Month (May 28, 2024)
• 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News: Details Emerge of Second Military Air Crash in New Mexico (May 30, 2024)
• NTSB Newsroom on X: Post about preliminary report (Dec 16, 2025)

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