Beech A36 accident near Craig, Colorado, July 7, 1988
On July 7, 1988 at about 10:19 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6051M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Craig, Colorado (Craig-Moffat airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 7, 1988 · about 10:19 pm local time
- Place
- Craig, Colorado · Craig-Moffat · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6051M · registry record · serial E 1492
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL AFTER A 4.6 HR X-CNTY FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT SAID THAT THE ENGINE PROBABLY FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. PERSONNEL AT THE WRECKAGE SITE REPORTED NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND SELECTED A GRASS FIELD TO LAND IN. THE ACFT PASSED THROUGH A WIRE FENCE AND STRUCK A DITCH.
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: 2,700 hours in all; 951 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 963 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1988; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Natural Resources INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AMA Amarillo TX at 5:43 pm
- Destination: CAG Craig CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 5,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°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.
Other NTSB records under N6051M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.