# NTSB DEN80FQA19: Beech A-45, N421NM, Taos, NM, February 25, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 25, 1980
- Place: Taos, NM · TAOS, NM
- Location: 36.3871° N, 105.5808° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taos, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3871&lon=-105.5808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131547
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FQA19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FQA19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1985  80/2/25  NR.TAOS,NM            BEECH A-45          CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 7000
        TIME - 1000                    N421NM              PX-  0  1  0  SEARCH AND RESCUE         TOTAL HOURS, 250 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TAOS,NM                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        REMARKS- CRASHED ON MTN APRX 12000FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N421NM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N421NM), registered now, S/N G-720, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A-45
- Registry model: [Beech A45](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a45) (registry code 1152006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800225005109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800225005109A), Feb 25, 1980: Beech A45, Taos, NM, Destroyed. Struck trees on mountan peak during search for lost aircraft. Pilot may have blacked out. Hypoxia or other.

## Other investigations on N421NM (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 DEN68F0068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68F0068), Aug 12, 1967: Beech T-34A (N421NM), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage

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.

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