Raytheon Aircraft Company B36TC accident near Durango, Colorado, February 26, 2026
On February 26, 2026 at about 11:05 pm local time, a 1997 Raytheon Aircraft Company B36TC, registered N2251Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Durango, Colorado (Durango-La Plata County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent loss of directional control while attempting to land during high crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2026 · about 11:05 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Durango-La Plata County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company B36TC, built 1997
- Registration
- N2251Q · registry record · serial EA-604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that a crosswind of 28 knots, gusting to 44 knots, prevailed at the destination airport during the approach. As the airplane crossed the runway 21 threshold, it encountered windshear which resulted in a hard landing. The pilot subsequently lost directional control, and the airplane departed the runway pavement which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, and left aileron. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures before the accident. He added that he should not have attempted to land with the reported wind conditions. About 10 minutes before the accident, the destination airport Automated Surface Observing System recorded a peak wind from 300° at 39 knots.
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
- Runway excursion during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,634 hours in all; 1,767 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,564 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,457.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 2025; 44.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 (turboprop); 1,871 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H81 Amarillo TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: DRO Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 9,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 23 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KDRO, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDRO 262253Z AUTO 29023G32KT 10SM CLR 16/M10 A3010 RMK AO2 PK WND 30042/2234
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at accident site (Pilot photo)
Photograph 2 – Left wing and aileron (Pilot photo)
Photograph 3 – Forward fuselage (Pilot photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Weather History -- Kdro / 26FEB2026 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N2251Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2251Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Raytheon Aircraft Company 2,138 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-21 2,217 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Durango-La Plata County · nearest airport
- River Falls Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,485 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2251Q 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA127.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.