Beech H35 accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N618T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruidoso, New Mexico (Sierra Blanca Regional airport). 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
- May 1, 1988 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Ruidoso, New Mexico · Sierra Blanca Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N618T · registry record · serial D-5242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 622 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1987; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-G10 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 6:01 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 8,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 25 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:38 pm from SRR, 1 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.