Beech A36 accident near Carlsbad, Texas, December 17, 1982
On December 17, 1982 at about 5:23 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N6662Y, was destroyed in an accident near Carlsbad, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- December 17, 1982 · about 5:23 am local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6662Y · no longer on the register · serial E-1573
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS HAD DEPARTED THE SAN ANGELO AIRPORT AT ABOUT 1800 CST ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY STOPPED AT MIDLAND, TX WHERE THEY BORROWED A COURTESY CAR AND DROVE TO A RESTAURANT. LATER, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A RETURN FLIGHT. AT ABOUT 2320 CST, THE PILOT MADE A RADIO CALL (INTENDED TO THE SAN ANGELO TOWER) AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS 17 MILES NORTHWEST FOR LANDING. THE AIRCREW OF RIO AIRLINES FLIGHT 715 HEARD THE TRANSMISSION AND INFORMED THE PILOT THAT THE TOWER WAS CLOSED, BUT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE ON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SLIGHTLY RISING TERRAIN IN A NEAR LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE. THE PLANE BOUNCED AND CONTINUED ANOTHER 384 FT BEFORE THE SECOND GROUND IMPACT. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CONTINUED ANOTHER 420 FT BEFORE IT CAME TO REST AND BURNED. THE IMPACT AREA WAS IN SPARSELY POPULATED RANGE LAND WHERE THERE WAS AN ABSENCE OF LIGHTS. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES WERE EVIDENT.
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: 255 hours in all; 177 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 296 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX
- Destination: SJT San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.