Beech 58 accident near Telluride, Colorado, April 29, 1993
On April 29, 1993 at about 10:15 am local time, a Beech 58, registered N5650N, was destroyed in an accident near Telluride, Colorado. It was a positioning 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PLAN AND/OR ASSURE SELECTION OF AN ALTITUDE/COURSE COMBINATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE TERRAIN CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF THE OTHER (SECOND) PILOT TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE SITUATION. DARKNESS, HIGH (MOUNTAINOUS) TERRAIN, AND PILOT/CREW FATIGUE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1993 · about 10:15 am local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N5650N · no longer on the register · serial TH-1638
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT-RATED PILOTS DEPARTED GRAND JUNCTION, CO, AT APPROXIMATELY 0345 MDT EN ROUTE TO FARMINGTON, NM, THEIR HOME BASE. AT 0351, THE FLIGHT LEVELED OFF AT 11,600 FEET ON A GROUND TRACK OF 135 DEGREES, AND MAINTAINED THAT HEADING AND ALTITUDE UNTIL RECORDED RADAR DATA ENDED AT 0407. ABOUT 0415, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A 14,246 FOOT MOUNTAIN AT THE 11,600 FOOT LEVEL. NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT AIRFRAME, ENGINE, PROPELLER, OR FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. AUTOPSY AND TOXICOLOGY PROTOCOLS CONDUCTED ON BOTH PILOTS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT. RECORDS SHOWED THAT BOTH PILOTS HAD BEEN ACTIVE SINCE 0800 THE PREVIOUS MORNING.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,650 hours in all; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 779 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 1993; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-C(6) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 9:40 am
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.