# NTSB DEN03FA157: Beech 35, N3853N, Belen, NM, September 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2003, 05:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Belen, NM - Coordinates: 34.636665, -106.845001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6367&lon=-106.8450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03FA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58030/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58030 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03FA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control immediately after takeoff due to spatial disorientation. A factor was the dark night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The non-instrument rated private pilot departed on runway 21 for a night VFR cross-country flight. He climbed to approximately 300 feet and started a turn northbound; his turn rate was calculated to be 5 degrees per second. A standard rate turn is 3 degrees per second. During the turn, the airplane's airspeed increased from 93 mph to 151 mph; it impacted the ground approximately 1 minute 18 seconds after lift off. It was a dark, moonless night, approximately 90 minutes prior to sunrise. To the south, west and north of the airport, it was minimally populated and there were very few lights. The airplane first impacted the ground on its right wing tip and cartwheeled; the airplane's debris was distributed over 537 feet. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 29, 2003, at approximately 0530 mountain daylight time, a Beech 35, N3853N, was destroyed when it impacted the ground after departure, 1.5 miles southwest of Alexander Municipal Airport (E80), Belen, New Mexico. The non-instrumented rated commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured. Night, visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the night, cross-country flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) radar data indicates that the airplane departed and climbed to approximately 300 feet above the ground. According to data recovered from the airplane's Global Positioning System, the pilot initiated his departure roll from runway 21 at 5:28:53. At 5:30:03, the pilot initiated a right turn. According to the data, the airplane's airspeed increased from 93 miles per hour (mph) at the start of the turn to 151 mph at the time of impact. The pilot turned 113 degrees in 22 seconds with a rate of turn calculated to be 5 degrees per second. Standard rate turn is 3 degrees per second. The airplane was found approximately 11 hours 30 minutes later, by an individual driving by on a nearby road. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial certificate with a single engine land rating. He took his last Federal Aviation Administration required flight medical on July 1, 2002; he was issued a third class medical certificate. According to the pilot's flight logbook, he did not log any flight time between November 9, 2001 and July 8, 2003. He had a flight review, in the accident airplane, on July 18, 2003. From July 8, 2003 to the time of the accident, he had accumulated approximately 13 hours of flight experience. The pilot had logged approximately 67 hours of night flight, 2 hours of which were within 30 days of the accident. The pilot was not instrument rated. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a single engine, propeller-driven, four seat airplane, which was manufactured by Beech Aircraft Company, in 1947. It was powered by a Teledyne Continental E185-11, six cylinder, reciprocating, horizontally opposed, direct drive, air cooled, carbureted engine, which had a maximum takeoff rating of 185 horsepower at sea level. Maintenance records indicate an annual inspection was performed on June 2, 2003. The airplane had approximately 3,350 flight hours. The airplane was grounded for maintenance/modification work from November 2001 to June 2003. See attached maintenance records for details. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 0456, the weather conditions at the Albuquerque International Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico (elevation 5,355 feet), 020 degrees 26 nautical miles (nm) from the accident site, were as follows: wind 130 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; scattered clouds at 10,000 feet agl; temperature 61 degrees Fahrenheit (F); dew point 43 degrees F; altimeter setting 30.16 inches. The moon was at 18 percent visible disk, and had set the day before the accident at 2126. The sunrise on the day of the accident was at 0700, approximately 90 minutes after the mishap. AIRPORT INFORMATION Alexander Municipal Airport is a non-towered field [no Air Traffic Control services]. It has one runway 6,601 x 60 feet, oriented 03-21 degrees, which is equipped with Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MIRL). The runway edge lights are pilot operated via the Unicom frequency and have two intensities, high and medium. There are no approach lights. The airport is located three miles west of the city of Belen. To the south, west and north of the airport, it is minimally populated and there are very few lights at night. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane was found on sandy, flat, nearly barren terrain (N34 degrees, 38', 8"; W106 degrees, 51', 25"; elevation 5,195 feet). The impact site was approximately 4,822 feet west of the departure end of runway 21. The initial ground scar contained part of the right wing tip fuel tank; an elliptical fuel spray area (dead and discolored grass) extended for 40 feet. The wreckage debris field extended for 537 feet and was on a 330 degree orientation. The engine was separated from the fuselage, and the cockpit had been ripped open. The pilot was found approximately 60 feet from the fuselage. All of the airplane's major components were accounted for at the accident site. The flight control surfaces were all identified and their control cables were intact. The fuselage was found upright, and oriented approximately 090 degrees. The cabin entry door had separated from the fuselage. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage, but its outer 60 percent was bent up approximately 40 degrees and bent aft. The leading edge of this segment of wing was dramatically crushed aft in an accordion fashion. The right wing was broken from the fuselage at its root, and remained connected only by its control cables. The wing's inboard 40 percent was bent up approximately 75 degrees, and the remaining outboard section was separated and oriented downward approximately 75 degrees. The empennage was structurally separated from the fuselage, but remained connected by its flight control cables. All of the airplane's fuel tanks had been compromised; there was no postimpact fire. The landing gear (actuator bell crank) was in the up position; the nose wheel landing gear and the right main landing gear were found separated from the aircraft. The left main landing gear was not observed, but the nearly intact left wing was flat on the ground. The flaps were in the up position. The cockpit and instrument panel were severely damaged with few readable components. The engine was found approximately 229 feet further down the energy/debris field from the fuselage. All the accessories, except for the generator and left magneto, were broken off. The engine case nose section was cracked around its circumference. The crankshaft was rotated and "thumb compression" was obtained on all cylinders. Both propeller blades were separated from their hubs. The first blades outboard approximate 18 inches had broken off, and was "S" bent. The second blade, found approximately 300 feet down the debris field and 170 feet to the west, was also "S" bent. Both blades exhibited cord wise striations, and were mechanically polished. No pre-impact engine or airframe anomalies, which might have affected the airplane's performance, were identified. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The autopsy was performed by the University of New Mexico, Health Science Center, Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 30, 2003. No evidence of physical incapacitation or impairment that would have been causal to the accident was found. A toxicologic analysis of the blood was performed for alcohol and general drugs. Ibuprofen, commonly referred to as Motrin, was present in the blood. The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology test on the pilot. According to CAMI's report (#200300287001), the blood was tested for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and drugs with negative results. His vitreous tested negative for volatiles (ethanol). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The airplane, including all components and logbooks, was released to the pilot's family on October 2, 2003. The families representative chose not to return a signed copy of the NTSB's wreckage release form. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3853N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3853N-2004-08-09), registration cancelled 2004-08-09, S/N D-1091, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 - Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-1091 - Airframe hours: 3350 - Engines: Continental E-185-11 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carlos E. Garcia - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2003, 13 hours before - Departed: E80, Belen, NM - Destination: LAM, Los Alamos, NM - Airport: E80, Alexander Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 18, 2003; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 866 total, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 26 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030929026259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030929026259A), Sep 29, 2003: Beech 35BEECH, Belen, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On September 29, 2003 at 0530 MDT, a Beech 35, N3853N, registered to carlos e. garcia impacted the ground one and a half miles southwest of the alexander… ## Docket (21 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58030. 25.4 MB in all. - Wreckage Diagrams and Radar/GPS Maps (item 1, .PDF, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40224986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Diagrams%20and%20Radar%2FGPS%20Maps-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40224990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Information (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Information-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Right Side of Fuselage (item 7, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225092&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Right%20Side%20of%20Fuselage-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right Side (item 8, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Side-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Right Side of Fuselage (item 9, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Right%20Side%20of%20Fuselage-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Tail of the airplace looking forward. (item 10, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Tail%20of%20the%20airplace%20looking%20forward.-Master.PDF - Photo 5: Front of airplane looking in. (item 11, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%3A%20Front%20of%20airplane%20looking%20in.-Master.PDF - Photo 6: Cockpit looking out. (item 12, .PDF, 835 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%3A%20Cockpit%20looking%20out.-Master.PDF - Photo 7: Left front looking aft. (item 13, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%3A%20Left%20front%20looking%20aft.-Master.PDF - Photo 8: Initial impact looking down energy path. (item 14, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%3A%20Initial%20impact%20looking%20down%20energy%20path.-Master.PDF - Photo 9: Engine in original inverted position. (item 15, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%3A%20Engine%20in%20original%20inverted%20position.-Master.PDF - Photo 10: Engine uprighted. (item 16, .PDF, 916 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%3A%20Engine%20uprighted.-Master.PDF - Photo 11: Engine nose with cracked case. (item 17, .PDF, 853 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011%3A%20Engine%20nose%20with%20cracked%20case.-Master.PDF - Photo 12: Whole blade with -S- bending. (item 18, .PDF, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2012%3A%20Whole%20blade%20with%20-S-%20bending.-Master.PDF - Photo 13: Whole Blade (item 19, .PDF, 886 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2013%3A%20Whole%20Blade-Master.PDF - Photo 14: Inboard broken blade. (item 20, .PDF, 906 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2014%3A%20Inboard%20broken%20blade.-Master.PDF - Photo 15: Outboard broken blade. (item 21, .PDF, 909 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40225197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2015%3A%20Outboard%20broken%20blade.-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.