# Accident 19961221039639A: Beech A36, Chacon, NM, December 21, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 1996, 13:00 local time
- Place: Chacon, NM
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1442° N, 105.3678° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chacon, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1442&lon=-105.3678&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3869A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3869A-1997-06-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Reported engine: CONT IO520BB
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 6
- Pilot flight hours: 8,200 total, 5,800 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA067) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961221039639A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE COLLIDED INTO RUGGED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE ON A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION, THE AIRPLANE WAS EN ROUTE AT AN ALTITUDE BETWEEN 13,000 AND 9,000 FEET MSL. MOUNTAIN PEAKS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT WERE IN THE 9,000 TO 13,000 FOOT RANGE. AREA LIGHT AIRPLANE PIREPS (16) AND WEATHER OBSERVATIONS CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING HEADWIND INTO ABOUT 50-55 KNOTS UPPER LEVEL WINDS, AND WAS IN MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. ONE PIREP INDICATED THAT `UP' AND `DOWN' DRAFTS EXEEDED 1,000 FEET PER MINUTE. ANOTHER PIREP INDICATED THAT `STACKED LENTICULAR CLOUDS WERE OBSERVED AT A MAGNITUDE THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE.' THE METEOROLOGY FACTUAL REPORT'S FINDINGS SUPPORT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS IN SEVERE TO EXTREME TURBULENT AIR, AND THAT MOUNTAIN WAVE CONDITIONS MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 8,200 HOUR PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND NO CONDITION OF INCAPACITATION WAS FOUND DURING THE AUTOPSY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE, AND PROPELLER DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE(S).                                                                  (-23) ON 12/21/96 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 PM MST DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM RATON, NM TO GLENDALE, AZ THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAINS AT 9500 FEET. THE PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE.

## 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 FTW97FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA067), Dec 21, 1996: Beech A36 (N3869A), Chacon, NM, destroyed, 6 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance from the high, mountainous terrain. Factors were; high wind, turbulence, and mountain wave conditions.

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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