Raytheon A36 accident near Crownpoint, New Mexico, November 7, 2001
On November 7, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Raytheon A36, registered N1099A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crownpoint, New Mexico (Crownpoint Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The safety pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing factors were the safety pilot's lack of experience flying from the right seat and the improper retraction of the flaps during the attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Crownpoint, New Mexico · Crownpoint Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon A36
- Registration
- N1099A · registry record · serial E-3088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot, who was occupying the left seat, was on an instrument cross-country training flight, accompanied by another private pilot, who occupied the right seat as a safety pilot. As the flight progressed, the left seat pilot complained of feeling ill, telling the safety pilot that he didn't think he could make it to the destination airport and needed a "restroom break." Both pilots then agreed to land at an airport along the route of flight. The left seat pilot relinquished control of the aircraft to the right seat safety pilot. The safety pilot then over flew the runway and determined the wind to be very light . During the landing flare, the airplane began to bank to the left, and when the airplane was no longer over the runway, a go-around was initiated. Power was added and flaps were retracted from 30 degrees to 0 degrees. The airplane failed to climb, subsequently impacting a fence and some poles, coming to rest approximately 200 yards left of the runway. The safety pilot had no experience landing the airplane from the right seat. According to the airplane's pilot operating handbook, when executing a go around, the flaps should not be retracted until all obstables are cleared.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 141 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 5, 2001
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 148 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 4, 2001
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,220.7 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 6, 2001; 2.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROS Roswell NM at 10:00 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Runway 36, 5,820 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.