Beech BE-58 accident near Farmington, New Mexico, June 23, 2002
On June 23, 2002 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Beech BE-58, registered N8245H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico (Four Corners Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the nose landing gear plunger assembly due to fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2002 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Farmington, New Mexico · Four Corners Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-58
- Registration
- N8245H · no longer on the register · serial TH-1635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff/initial climb, when the main landing gear retracted a "pop-bang was heard." The two green main landing gear indicator lights and the red in-transit indicator light remained illuminated. The pilot's recycled the landing gear; however, they could not get a down and locked indication for the nose landing gear. During a low approach over the runway, company personnel observed that the nose landing gear was not locked in the down position and was at a 45 degree angle. Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. The nose landing gear plunger assembly, part number 35-825094-4, had accumulated 10,872.5 hours. Stereoscopic and metallurgical examination of the component revealed a fatigue fracture.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,945 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 105 in the last 30 days; 2,855 as pilot in command; 2,340 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 296 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 22, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,872.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 21, 2002; 4.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 5:00 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Runway 23, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from FMN
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.
Other NTSB records under N8245H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.