Beech C35 accident near Belen, New Mexico, September 26, 2015
On September 26, 2015 at about 6:20 pm local time, a 1952 Beech C35, registered N1990D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to contamination in the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2015 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35, built 1952 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N1990D · no longer on the register · serial D-3230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, while returning to the airport during a personal local flight and about 3 miles northeast of the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue but was unable to restart the engine, so he chose to make a forced landing on a dirt road. The airplane continued down the road for about 600 ft, and the left wing then collided with a bush. The airplane came to rest upright next to the road about 1 mile north of the airport. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the fuel strainer and carburetor fuel inlet screen were clogged with contaminants, and there was a distinct odor of automotive fuel. The engine had been modified under a supplemental type certificate that only allowed for the use of 100LL aviation fuel. However, the fuel doors still contained placards indicating that unleaded automotive gasoline was approved fuel for the airplane. The pilot stated that, during the 2 years before the accident, he had only used 100LL aviation fuel in the airplane. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to contamination in the fuel system.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Fuel contamination during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not serviced/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Placards and markings › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 542 hours in all; 542 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,260 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 14, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,703 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors E225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM
- Destination: E80 Belen NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KABQ, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN15LA436.