Beech 35 accident near El Paso, Texas, March 29, 1983
On March 29, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3732N, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (West Texas airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 29, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · West Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3732N · no longer on the register · serial D-941
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON A FLT AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPN, THE PLT COULD NOT RETRACT THE GEAR, USING THE NORMAL ELECTRICAL SYS. IT REMAINED EXTENDED WITH THE GREEN SAFE LIGHT ON & THE GEAR POINTER INDICATING DOWN. HE TRIED TO ASSIST THE NORMAL SYS WITH THE MANUAL HANDCRANK, ALTHOUGH THE PLT HANDBOOK DID NOT ALLOW THIS PRACTICE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE THEN USED THE HANDCRANK TO MOVE THE GEAR TO THE EXTENDED POSITION, BUT THE GREEN LIGHT WOULD NOT REILLUMINATE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE DIRT OVERRUN AREA, BUT DID NOT SEE A GRADED DIRT BANK, SHORT OF THE OVERRUN. THE GEAR HIT THE BANK & COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS FOUND IN THE 'POPPED' POSITION. THE NORMAL & EMERGENCY GEAR SYS HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL BREAKERS WERE IN ON THE DAY BEFORE THE FLT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT WAS UNAWARE OF A CHECKLIST ITEM TO ASSURE ALL BREAKERS WERE IN BEFORE STARTING THE ENG. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL WHEN OR WHY THE LANDING GEAR CIRCUIT BREAKER GOT INTO THE POPPED POSITION.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 24LL Petersburg IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,100 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.