Beech 35 accident near Belen, New Mexico, September 29, 2003
On September 29, 2003 at about 11:30 am local time, a Beech 35, registered N3853N, was destroyed in an accident near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control immediately after takeoff due to spatial disorientation. A factor was the dark night light conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2003 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3853N · no longer on the register · serial D-1091
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated private pilot departed on runway 21 for a night VFR cross-country flight. He climbed to approximately 300 feet and started a turn northbound; his turn rate was calculated to be 5 degrees per second. A standard rate turn is 3 degrees per second. During the turn, the airplane's airspeed increased from 93 mph to 151 mph; it impacted the ground approximately 1 minute 18 seconds after lift off. It was a dark, moonless night, approximately 90 minutes prior to sunrise. To the south, west and north of the airport, it was minimally populated and there were very few lights. The airplane first impacted the ground on its right wing tip and cartwheeled; the airplane's debris was distributed over 537 feet.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 866 hours in all; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 2003; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM at 11:29 am
- Destination: LAM Los Alamos NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from ABQ, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.