Beech A36TC accident near Boulder, Colorado, March 12, 1982
On March 12, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N3738J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boulder, Colorado (Boulder Municipal airport). It was a business 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · Boulder Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3738J · no longer on the register · serial EA 162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A NORMAL APPROACH, HE ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT IN WINDS GUSTING ABOUT 40 TO 60 KNOTS. HE STARTED TO ABORT THE LANDING BY RAISING THE GEAR AND APPLYING FULL POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TURNED RIGHT TO AVOID A HILL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR A HOUSE. THEREFORE, HE CHOPPED THE POWER AND LET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN INTO AN OPEN AREA. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE PLANE APPEARED TO ENTER AN AREA OF SINK THAT IS NORMALLY PRESENT ON THE APPROACH END OF THAT RUNWAY IN HIGH WESTERLY WINDS. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE RIGHT WING CLIPPED A POWERLINE BEFORE THE PLANE WENT DOWN AT A SHALLOW ANGLE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON A GRAVEL ROAD ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 5300 FT MSL.
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
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 730 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 209 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jackson WY at 10:10 am
- Destination: Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 35 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.