# NTSB DEN85FA200: Beech A36, N130T, Santa Rosa, NM, July 26, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1985, 05:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Santa Rosa, NM
- Coordinates: 34.940452, -104.670036 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9405&lon=-104.6700&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): 16548
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16548/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA200

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - airspeed - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPARTED DALHART, TX ON A NIGHT X-COUNTRY TO QUEMEDO, NM. EN ROUTE HE STOPPED AND PICKED UP A FRIEND AT HEREFORD, TX. HE DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN. HE WAS LOST OFF OF RADAR JUST WEST OF SANTA ROSA, NM, WHERE THE WRECKAGE WAS LATER FOUND. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PLT WITH HIS PAX FRIEND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N130T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-304
- Airframe hours: 1871
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. Cattle Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1984, 102 hours before
- Departed: HEREFORD, TX
- Destination: QUEMEDO, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,031 total, 25 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 16 knots
- Temperature: 66 °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 19850726034119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850726034119A), Jul 26, 1985: Beech A36, Santa Rosa, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted ground in a steep nose low attitude in darkness. Thunderstorms reported in the area.

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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