Beech B35 accident near Dulce, New Mexico, March 30, 1982
On March 30, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N5237C, was destroyed in an accident near Dulce, New Mexico (Dulce airport). It was a personal 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
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
- March 30, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dulce, New Mexico · Dulce · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5237C · no longer on the register · serial D-2582
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROXIMATELY 30 MIN AFTER DEPARTURE THE ACFT RETURNED TO THE ARPT TRAILING SMOKE & OCCASSIONAL FLAME FROM AN AREA NEAR THE COWL FLAPS & NOSE GEAR DOORS. THE PLT DID NOT MAKE A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH BUT APPEARED TO BE IN A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE ACFT STALLED WHERE A LEFT BASE LEG TURN WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF HEAT & SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. INSIDE PORTIONS OF THE BROKEN WINDSHIELD WERE SOOTED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE EMPENNAGE WAS COVERED WITH FRESH OIL OVER ITS ENTIRE LENGTH. OIL STAINS & FRESH OIL LEAKAGE SIGNATURES WERE PRESENT ON THE OIL DRAIN HOUSING ATTACHED TO THEACCESSORY CASE. THE REAR CLAMP WAS LOOSE ON THE P/N 24827 HOSE WHICHCOUPLES THIS HOUSING TO THE INTAKE & OIL DRAIN MANIFOLD. THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED BY THE OWNER BETWEEN 10/79 & THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT. NO FAA FORM 337 (MAJOR REPAIR & ALTERATION) HAD BEEN FILED SINCE 5/14/75 EVEN THOUGH A LARGE ENGINE & NUMEROUS MODIFICATIONS TO THE ACFT HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY THE OWNER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,953 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NMO1 Dulce NM at 1:23 am
- Destination: C Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 027° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 106°F (41°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.