Beech A36 accident near Salida, Colorado, April 6, 1991
On April 6, 1991 at about 8:08 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N4595S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salida, Colorado (Harriet Alexander Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DUAL STUDENT'S POOR TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE PIC CFI. A FACTOR WAS: THE DUAL STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MOUNTAIN FLYING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1991 · about 8:08 pm local time
- Place
- Salida, Colorado · Harriet Alexander Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N4595S · registry record · serial E-752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RATED STUDENT PILOT WAS RECEIVING A MOUNTAIN FLYING CHECKOUT FROM THE PIC/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. TAKEOFF WAS MADE FROM A 7200 FT. RUNWAY INTO A 15 KNOT HEADWIND. TEN DEGREES OF FLAPS WERE USED AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,089 FEET MSL. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET AGL, THEN THE AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DECAY AND THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR APPLIED FORWARD CONTROL YOKE PRESSURE AND CALLED FOR GEAR RETRACTION. THE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS PRUDENT. INSTEAD, HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD LEFT OF CENTERLINE, WENT THROUGH A BARBED WIRE FENCE, AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 780 hours in all; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 7,200 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.