# NTSB DEN89FA152: Beech E33, N20CF, Angel Fire, NM, July 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1989, 15:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Angel Fire, NM
- Coordinates: 36.390346, -105.269699 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3903&lon=-105.2697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17594/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA152

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS PREMATURE ROTATION FOR TAKEOFF AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED TO CLIMB, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF (WHILE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RWY REMAINING). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE:  THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LIMIT, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, UPHILL RUNWAY GRADIENT, DOWNDRAFT, TURBULENCE, AND TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - rotation - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not possible
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT AND 3 PAX BOARDED THE ACFT AT ANGEL FIRE, NM (ELEV 8382 FT MSL) TO RETURN TO PHOENIX, AZ. DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 11,582 FT MSL. THE ACFT, WHICH HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED, HAD 54 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD AND WAS APRX 30 LBS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. THE PLT ELECTED TO TAKE OFF ON RWY 17 (8900 FT X 75 FT, 0.643% UPHILL GRADIENT). HE ROTATED 3 TIMES BEFORE THE ACFT FINALLY LIFTED OFF NEAR THE DEPARTURE END. NUMEROUS WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING LOW THROUGH THE VALLEY TOWARDS GRADUALLY RISING TERRAIN. IT FINALLY STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED APRX 5 MI FROM THE ARPT AT AN ELEV OF 8813 FT MSL. ONE PAX WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EVACUATE THE BURNING ACFT. PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATED THE ACFT WAS CAPABLE OF TAKING OFF UNDER THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS. THE PLT LATER REPORTED THAT TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS DEGRADED THE ACFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE. HE ALSO INDICATED THE ACFT WAS ON THE VERGE OF STALLING THROUGHOUT THE SHORT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N20CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20CF-1990-06-18), registration cancelled 1990-06-18, S/N CD1203 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E33
- Registry model: [Beech E33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e33) (registry code 1151422) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CD-1203
- Airframe hours: 3294
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-K 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fitch, Paul S.
- Registered owner: Fitch, Paul S.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1988, 14 hours before
- Departed: AXX
- Destination: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ
- Airport: AXX, Angel Fire, runway 17, 8,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,300 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 4,100 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19890702018639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890702018639A), Jul 2, 1989: Beech E33, Angel Fire, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Hot day high density altitude, unable to climb on takeoff struck trees and burned.

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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