- Date
- August 2, 1988, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cimarron, NM
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4006TBeech B23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880802071669A
- Case key
- 17381
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot to properly preflight his aircraft in accordance with the procedures provided in the operators handbook thus causing the engine to lose power following takeoff due to fuel contamination caused by water.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
This accident occurred as the plt was attempting to return to the airport after a partial loss of eng power. Witnesses reported that after starting the eng the pilot taxied to the end of the runway and the eng quit. After draining the sumps the eng restarted after several attempts. The acft then departed and the witnesses left the airport. No one saw the acdt. The wreckage was found about 3 hrs later. The acft had been parked at the airport for 11 days with fuel tanks partially filled. Fuel tank cap seals were deteriorated and several rain showers had occurred at the airport during the 11 days. Water was found in the fuel tanks during the wreckage examination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4006T
- Reported as
- Beech B23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- N-1113
- Airframe hours
- 1,762
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A2G, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas Brooks Chartered
- Registered owner
- Thomas Brooks Chartered
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1987 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- E85 · Cimarron
- Destination
- RTN · Raton, NM
- Airport
- E85 · Philmont Scout Ranch, runway 6, 4,000 × 50 ft, dirt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,071 total · 141 in this make and model · 902 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LVS, 50 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.