Consolidated-Vultee BT-13B accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, July 28, 1984
On July 28, 1984 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Consolidated-Vultee BT-13B, registered N63697, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 28, 1984 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hobbs, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated-Vultee BT-13B
- Registration
- N63697 · registry record · serial 79-1293
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS PART OF A GROUP OF A CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE ACFT THE FLIGHT CONDUCTED PUBLIC RELATIONS FLYOVERS AT SEVERAL AREA ARPTS. DUE TO A LOW LDG GEAR STRUT N63697 DID NOT LAND WITH THE OTHER ACFT AFTER THE FLYOVERS. THE PLT PLANNED TO HAVE THE STRUT REPAIRED UPON ARRIVAL AT HOBBS, NM. WHILE CIRCLING OVHD 2 INTERMEDIATE ARPTS, ENGINE OIL TEMP EXCEEDED THE RED LINE. THE PLT ATTRIBUTED THE RISE TO HIGH OAT AND SLOW SPEED. AFTER REFUELING THE ACFT DEPARTED ON THE LAST LEG TO HOBBS. ABOUT 15 MIN LATER HEAVY VIBRATIONS DEVELOPED IN THE ENGINE. POWER WAS REDUCED AND A FORCED LDG IN AN OIL FIELD ACCOMPLISHED. DURING THE LDG ROLL BOTH MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,122 hours in all; 377 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 4,006 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,744 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 13, 1983; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jal NM at 9:00 pm
- Destination: HOB Hobbs NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.