Beech M35 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 5, 2000
On February 5, 2000 at about 3:23 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N639V, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque Int'L Sunport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot inadvertently allowing the airplane to stall. Factors were the missing alternator belt and the resultant total electrical system failure, and the pilot's attention being diverted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2000 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque Int'L Sunport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N639V · no longer on the register · serial D-6246
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane took off, controllers noticed the landing gear did not retract fully and advised the pilot, but he did not acknowledge the advisory. The airplane entered a left traffic pattern for runway 8, then made 'steep turns' to enter a right base leg and final approach to runway 8. It began 'rocking back and forth,' then appeared to stall. It collided with terrain near the runway threshold. The alternator belt was found to be missing. The alternator was later bench tested and operated normally when connected to a fresh battery. When tested, the airplane's battery produced 8.49 volts, enough to energize the field coils, and was determined to be capable of being recharged.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1999; 162 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ at 3:13 pm
- Destination: UNK Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from ABQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.