# Accident 19961127036759A: Beech A36TC, Tucumcari, NM, November 27, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 27, 1996, 12:24 local time
- Place: Tucumcari, NM
- Airport: Tucumcari Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1592° N, 103.7199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1592&lon=-103.7199&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48PD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48PD-1997-10-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36TC (registry code 1151603, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520UB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 230 total, 129 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961127036759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST POWER TO ENGINE. CRASHED. (.4)DUE TO EN ROUTE WEATHER, THE NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT DECIDED TO LAND AT AN EN ROUTE AIRPORT. DURING THE DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'APPEARED TO BE GLIDING DOWN TOWARD A FIELD AND THEN IT STARTED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL.' A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AT 150 TO 200 FEET AGL WITH THE LEFT WING LOW, THEN PERPENDICULAR TO THE SKY, FOLLOWED BY A NOSE LOW IMPACT' SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN FLAT TERRAIN. MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT REVEAL ANY UNCORRECTED MAINTENANCE DEFECTS. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. THE RIGHT REAR FORWARD FACING SEAT WAS FOUND DETACHED FROM THE CABIN FLOOR WHERE THE NUT PLATES PULLED THROUGH THE FLOOR.  PRESCRIPTION AND NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS WERE FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE TOXICOLOGY WAS POSITIVE FOR VERAPAMIL, A HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION THAT MAY BE APPROVED BY FAA FOR USE BY PILOTS; HOWEVER, THE FAA RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED APPROVAL TO USE THE DRUG. AN ENGINE TEST THAT WAS RUN TO FULL THROTTLE DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A TOTA                                            L LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. (-23) PILOT REPORTED POWER LOSS ON DOWNWIND @ TCC RWY 26. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED VERTICALLY 3 MILES FROM APPROACH END OF RWY 26. PILOT FATALLY INJURED, 2 PAX RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. ACCIDENT OCCURRED O 11/27/96 @ 1224 MST. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED, NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA049), Nov 27, 1996: Beech A36TC (N48PD), Tucumcari, NM, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.

## Other reports on N48PD (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19861006065919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861006065919I), Oct 6, 1986: Beech A36TC (N48PD), Coatesville, PA, Minor damage. Landing gear retracted on rollout. Pilot retracted gear while reaching for flaps.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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