# NTSB DEN84FA076: Beech A36, N719K, Columbus, NM, January 28, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1984, 21:45 local (Jan 28, 1984, 04:45 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, NM
- Coordinates: 31.820262, -107.640304 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8203&lon=-107.6403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16195/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA076

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - descent - initiated, pilot in command
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF AT NIGHT IN THE COMPANY OF PLTS FLYING 2 OTHER ACFT, A CESSNA 150 & A PIPER PA-22. N719K, A BEECH A36 BONANZA, WAS FLYING AHEAD OF THE OTHER 2 ACFT. THE PLT OF 1 OF THE OTHER ACFT STATED THAT THE BONANZA PLT WOULD USUALLY FLY AT A SLOWER AIRSPEED WHEN IN THE COMPANY OF SLOWER ACFT. HE COULD SEE THE BONANZA'S POSITION LIGHTS, BUT COULD NOT TELL WHETHER THE PLT MIGHT HAVE LEFT THE GEAR OR FLAPS EXTENDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BONANZA CRASHED ON LEVEL, DRY, HARD PACKED, DESERT TERRAIN APRX 10 MI NORTH OF COLUMBUS, NM, WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND. MOUNTAINS WERE LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A SLIGHT NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS, BUT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE PLTS OF THE 3 ACFT WERE USING THE SAME RADIO FREQ, BUT NO CALLS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE BONANZA PLT. THE NIGHT WAS MOONLESS; THE AREA NORTH OF COLUMBUS WAS DESCRIBED AS A 'BLACK HOLE' ON DARK NIGHTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N719K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N719K-1984-06-06), registration cancelled 1984-06-06, S/N E-1033 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1033
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William S. & Lillis B. Carson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1983, 61 hours before
- Departed: DMN, DEMING, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,100 total, 764 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19840127002849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840127002849A), Jan 27, 1984: Beech A36, Columbus, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into the ground on a dark night. No ground reference lights. Indicates pilot was descending for destination.

## Other investigations on N719K (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 CHI68F0744](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0744), May 3, 1968: Beech B90 (N719K), Athens, OH, 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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