Cessna 170B accident near Belen, New Mexico, June 8, 1984
On June 8, 1984 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3279A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Municipal airport). It was a personal 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
- June 8, 1984 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3279A · registry record · serial 25923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT ROLLED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. HEAVY BRAKING WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP SHORT OF A FENCE AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER INVERTED. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE RATED PLTS. THEIR STATEMENTS WERE CONTRADICTORY. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHICH PLT WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS OR SERVING AS PIC AT THE TIME 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
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 196 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E80 Belen NM at 5:38 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,800 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.