Beech A36 accident near Cimarron, New Mexico, July 19, 1989
On July 19, 1989 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N26208, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cimarron, New Mexico (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PLAN HIS FLIGHT. HE FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CHANGABLE WINDS AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE THAT EXISTED AT THE AIRSTRIP WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. A PROPER CLIMB RATE WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THEAIRCRAFT STALLED/MUSHED INTO THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1989 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cimarron, New Mexico · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N26208 · registry record · serial E-2312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT AND WITNESSES, THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE AND CHANGED DIRECTION DURING TAKEOFF. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF WAS APRX 8,000 FT. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND SETTLED INTO A ROCKY AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 953 hours in all; 246 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 726 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E85 Cimarron NM
- Destination: SAE Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 23, 4,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.