Beech A36 accident near Columbus, New Mexico, January 28, 1984
On January 28, 1984 at about 4:45 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N719K, was destroyed in an accident near Columbus, New Mexico. 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 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
- January 28, 1984 · about 4:45 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N719K · no longer on the register · serial E-1033
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF AT NIGHT IN THE COMPANY OF PLTS FLYING 2 OTHER ACFT, A CESSNA 150 & A PIPER PA-22. N719K, A BEECH A36 BONANZA, WAS FLYING AHEAD OF THE OTHER 2 ACFT. THE PLT OF 1 OF THE OTHER ACFT STATED THAT THE BONANZA PLT WOULD USUALLY FLY AT A SLOWER AIRSPEED WHEN IN THE COMPANY OF SLOWER ACFT. HE COULD SEE THE BONANZA'S POSITION LIGHTS, BUT COULD NOT TELL WHETHER THE PLT MIGHT HAVE LEFT THE GEAR OR FLAPS EXTENDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BONANZA CRASHED ON LEVEL, DRY, HARD PACKED, DESERT TERRAIN APRX 10 MI NORTH OF COLUMBUS, NM, WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND. MOUNTAINS WERE LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A SLIGHT NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS, BUT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE PLTS OF THE 3 ACFT WERE USING THE SAME RADIO FREQ, BUT NO CALLS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE BONANZA PLT. THE NIGHT WAS MOONLESS; THE AREA NORTH OF COLUMBUS WAS DESCRIBED AS A 'BLACK HOLE' ON DARK NIGHTS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 764 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1983; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DMN Deming NM at 4:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.