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20 It was a March Monday morning at Albuquerque Center (ZAB). Traffic was ramping up, but it wasn't too busy yet. It was the kind of shift that can feel deceptively routine, but in aviation, things can change in an instant. N15713 established contact with sector 45 at ZAB and requested flight following to Belen Regional Airport (BRG). Jade Hetes was working the radar position. She identified N15713 and advised the pilot to maintain visual flight rules (VFR). Five minutes later, everything changed. A distress call came through: "MAYDAY." The pilot reported a rough-running engine, high oil pressure, and additional symptoms that were unintelligible over the radio. Without hesitation, Jade asked for the pilot's intentions. N15713 was showing at 9,100 feet. The pilot responded: they would be landing in a field. Jade immediately began troubleshooting with the pilot. She suggested Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport which was 15 miles away, or a return to Flagstaff (FLG). Jade asked if the pilot could turn left, but radar contact was lost. Jade asked for an altitude report and N15713 reported in a left turn and an altitude of 8,100 feet. Jade issued an advisory: minimum instrument flight rules (IFR) altitude in the area was 8,000 feet. And there was still no radar contact. A few moments later, Jade asked again for N15713's heading. The pilot replied: "Northbound." Radar contact was re-established at 7,700 feet. Jade offered: "Direct Flagstaff," but the pilot responded she wouldn't make it. Jade kept going. She advised that Interstate 40 was roughly three miles south. The pilot decided to attempt landing on the highway. Jade then sought clarity on the nature of the emergency. "What had failed?" The pilot replied "Oil pressure. Oil on the windscreen." Jade updated the pilot on position and distance to I-40. The pilot didn't think she would make it. Jade responded that she still had the aircraft on radar. A couple of minutes later, N15713 advised she could not make the highway and was going to land in a field. Jade had worked every angle to give N15713 a chance SOUTH W EST R EGION SOUTH W EST R EGION Jade Hetes Albuquerque Center ZAB Wri en by Anita Johnson (Albuquerque ATCT, ABQ)

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