Beech 58 accident near Whites City, New Mexico, March 5, 1991
On March 5, 1991 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N2019V, was destroyed in an accident near Whites City, New Mexico. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO FLY AT LOW ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE: TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1991 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Whites City, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N2019V · no longer on the register · serial TH-956
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A 7500 FOOT MOUNTAIN AT THE 6600 FOOT LEVEL IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT FILED A DVFR FLIGHT PLAN AND INDICATED A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 6500 TO 7000 FEET. ALTOCUMULUS STANDING LENTICULAR CLOUDS WERE OBSERVED IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THIS ROUTE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE WAS KNOWN TO FLY AT LOW ALTITUDES. ACCORDING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS, THERE WERE STRONG WESTERLY WINDS AND ASSOCIATED TURBULENCE OVER THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,878 hours in all; 1,772 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C(7) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HOB Hobbs NM at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MHMO Hermosillo
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 27 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.