Beech V35B accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 24, 2000
On December 24, 2000 at about 10:57 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N2174L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque International Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the inadvertent stall. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper in-flight planning, his lack of recent flying experience, and the abrupt maneuver to correct to the proper runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2000 · about 10:57 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque International Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2174L · no longer on the register · serial D-9929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tower cleared the pilot to land on runway 03. However, the pilot lined up for a landing on runway 35. The tower informed the pilot. The pilot executed a steep left bank maneuver in an attempt to line up on runway 03. The airplane then dived to the ground in a nose low attitude impacting near the approach end of runway 03. The airplane was destroyed. Air Traffic Control radar showed the airplane approach the airport from the east. At 1556:05, radar data showed the airplane begin a right turn to a heading of 314 degrees. The airplane was at an altitude of 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and flying at an airspeed of 122 knots. At 1556:57, radar data showed the airplane make an abrupt left turn to 294 degrees. The airplane's altitude was at 5,700 feet msl and its airspeed was 90 knots. Over the next 28 seconds, the airplane continued its turn until rolling out on a 225 degree heading. At 1557:34, radar data showed the airplane in an abrupt right turn to 000 degrees. Approximately 4 seconds later, the airplane was in a left turn on a heading of 314 degrees. The left turn continued until radar contact was lost at 1557:48. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Examination of the pilot's records showed he logged 4.7 hours in the previous 90 days. Approximately 3.5 of those hours were logged the day of the accident.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,797.0 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 1, 2000; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 8:25 pm
- Destination: ABQ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 8,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:57 pm from ABQ, 1 miles away
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.