Beech D18S accident near Belen, New Mexico, June 26, 1982
On June 26, 1982 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Beech D18S, registered N3962, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander airport). It was a personal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1982 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D18S · all D18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N3962 · no longer on the register · serial A-193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING OIL AND THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. HE SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE, BUT STATED THAT THE PROPELLER WOULD NOT COMPLETELY FEATHER DUE TO THE LOSS OF OIL. WHILE APPROACHING TO LAND AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND THE GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A GEAR UP LANDING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,530 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P & W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Destination: Ozona TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.