Beech P-35 accident near Durango, Colorado, February 10, 1991
On February 10, 1991 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Beech P-35, registered N9653Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (La Plata County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION CAUSED BY TURBOCHARGER OIL FEED LINE FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF LUBRICATING OIL TO THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1991 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · La Plata County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P-35 · all P-35s on the register
- Registration
- N9653Y · registry record · serial 0D-7086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE TURBOCHARGER OIL FEED LINE FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF LUBRICATING OIL TO THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE FAILING MECHANICALLY. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY ENGINE OUT LANDING AT THE AIRPORT WHICH ENDED WITH A LANDING 200 FEET SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY IN ROUGH TERRAIN.
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: 972 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 812 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1990; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 9,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN91LA041.