Beech A36 accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, October 9, 1989
On October 9, 1989 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6029S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico (Las Vegas 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, WHEN SHE FAILED TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED WITHIN THE APPROPRIATE TAKEOFF DISTANCE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1989 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, New Mexico · Las Vegas · 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
- N6029S · no longer on the register · serial E1463
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A 5000 FT LONG ASPHALT RUNWAY WITH CALM WIND AND 8800 FT DENSITY ALTITUDE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TWO TAKEOFFS BUT ABORTED BOTH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REACH TAKEOFF SPEED. THE PILOT SAID THAT PRIOR TO THE FIRST ATTEMPT 'DURING RUNUP DETONATION OCCURRED SO I ENRICHED THE MIXTURE. THEN I APPLIED POWER FOR TAKEOFF - FULL POWER - MIXTURE CONTROL OUT ABOUT 2 INCHES.' THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY SO SHE ABORTED. DURING THE SECOND TAKEOFF THE PILOT SAID SHE DID NOT ADVANCE THE THROTTLE ALL THE WAY. DESCRIBING THE THIRD ATTEMPT, THE PILOT SAID 'SPEED ON TAKE OFF ROLL IMPROVED - GOT UP TO 65 IAS - END OF RUNWAY CAME. PULLED OFF, STALL WARNING HORN, DROPPED NOSE - NO ADDED POWER - HIT THE GROUND & ROLLED THROUGH GRASS...' ACCORDING TO THE TAKEOFF CHART FOR THIS AIRCRAFT, THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 2000 FEET.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,698 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVS at 8:39 pm
- Destination: 2V2 Longmont CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from LVS
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.
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.