Beech B23 accident near Cimarron, New Mexico, August 2, 1988
On August 2, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech B23, registered N4006T, was destroyed in an accident near Cimarron, New Mexico (Philmont Scout Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT HIS AIRCRAFT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN THE OPERATORS HANDBOOK THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER FOLLOWING TAKEOFF DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cimarron, New Mexico · Philmont Scout Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N4006T · no longer on the register · serial N-1113
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENG POWER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENG THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE ENG QUIT. AFTER DRAINING THE SUMPS THE ENG RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.THE ACFT THEN DEPARTED AND THE WITNESSES LEFT THE AIRPORT. NO ONE SAW THE ACDT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ABOUT 3 HRS LATER. THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED AT THE AIRPORT FOR 11 DAYS WITH FUEL TANKS PARTIALLY FILLED. FUEL TANK CAP SEALS WERE DETERIORATED AND SEVERAL RAIN SHOWERS HAD OCCURRED AT THE AIRPORT DURING THE 11 DAYS. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.
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: 1,071 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 902 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,762 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1987; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E85 Cimarron at 7:50 pm
- Destination: RTN Raton NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from LVS, 50 miles away
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.