Beech M35 accident near Lamar, Colorado, April 2, 1982
On April 2, 1982 at about 5:22 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9733R, was destroyed in an accident near Lamar, Colorado (Lamar Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- April 2, 1982 · about 5:22 pm local time
- Place
- Lamar, Colorado · Lamar Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9733R · no longer on the register · serial D6214
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE WX BRIEFING THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WX ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT WOULD BE GENERALLY GOOD VFR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POSSIBLE TURBULENCE & THAT BLOWING DUST WOULD BE THE BIG PROBLEM. THERE WERE PIREPS OF 65K WINDS AT 3,000 FT OVER OKLAHOMA CITY WHICH WAS FORECASTING VISIBILITIES DROPPING TO 3-4 MI IN BLOWING DUST BY NOON. THE PLT'S FORMER FLT EXAMINER TRIED TO CONVINCE THE PLT TO POSTPONE THE TRIP DUE TO HIGH WINDS ENROUTE. AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 A GROUND WITNES ON A ROAD NEAR THE LAMAR ARPT STATED HE SAW A DUST CLOUD NORTH OF TOWN RISING TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FT. BY THE TIME THE WITNESS REACHED THE ARPT VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 100 FT WITH AN ESTIMATED WIND OF 60 MPH. ANOTHER WITNESS WHO HEARD THE CRASH SAID IT WAS TOO DIRTY TO SEE ANYTHING. THE LA JUNTA FSS, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 32 MI WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, 0958 & 1058 OBSERVATIONS INCLUDED SURFACE WINDS GUSTING TO 57K & SKY COVERAGE OF 0.6.
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: 284 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: General Aircraft Sales & Servi
The flight
- Departed from: C Norman OK at 7:45 am
- Destination: C Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 35 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 124°F (51°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.