Beech F33A accident near Lamar, Colorado, March 27, 1989
On March 27, 1989 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N3042Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lamar, Colorado. 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
FAILURE OF AN ALTERNATOR BEARING WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AFTER THE BATTERY BECAME DISCHARGED, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE THE GEAR WAS FULLY EXTENDED DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1989 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lamar, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N3042Z · no longer on the register · serial CE1114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DRG A X-COUNTRY FLT THE ALTERNATOR OUT LIGHT ILLUMINATED & THE PLT DIVERTED TO THE CLOSEST ARPT WHICH WAS AT LAMAR, CO. THE ACFT ARRIVED AT LAMAR WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DEPLETED. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR WITH THE NORMAL (ELECTRICAL) SYSTEM, SO SHE EXTENDED THE GEAR MANUALLY TO WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. SHE SAID THE ENG OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS INDICATING LOW, SO SHE ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ALL THREE GEAR COLLAPSED. BEFORE STOPPING, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD & WAS FURTHER DAMAGED. A POST-ACDNT INSPN OF THE ACFT REVEALED AN ALTERNATOR BEARING HAD FAILED. NO REASON FOR THE RPRTD DROP IN OIL PRESSURE WAS FND.
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: 1,317 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 582 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1989; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,022 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Denver CO at 5:10 pm
- Destination: DDC Dodge City KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.