Beech V35 accident near Conchas, New Mexico, August 21, 1983
On August 21, 1983 at about 2:08 am local time, a Beech V35, registered N5429U, was destroyed in an accident near Conchas, New Mexico (Conchas Dam airport). 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
- August 21, 1983 · about 2:08 am local time
- Place
- Conchas, New Mexico · Conchas Dam · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N5429U · no longer on the register · serial D8511
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD BEEN GIVING RIDES TO VARIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS & THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING IN THE AREA OF CONCHAS LAKE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE ACFT HAD 'BUZZED' BOATS ON THE LAKE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE DAY. THE ACCIDENT FLT DEPARTED THE ARPT WITH FOUR ADULTS ABOARD; THREE BROTHERS & ONE SISTER. THE ACFT DEPARTED RWY 9 & TRAVELED ABOUT 3/4 MI BEFORE IMPACTING IN THE DESERT IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF THE THROWOVER CONTROL WHEEL & ITS PIVOTING ARM, WHICH HAD SEPARATED, INDICATED IT WAS MOST PROBABLY POSITIONED FOR USE BY THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER WHO WAS NOT A CERTIFICATED PLT. THE PLT'S MUSCLE TISSUE ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.113
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: 192 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,974 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1982; 243 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Gelder Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from TCC, 30 miles away
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.