Beech H35 accident near Taos, New Mexico, December 23, 1983
On December 23, 1983 at about 7:53 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N7933D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taos, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 23, 1983 · about 7:53 pm local time
- Place
- Taos, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N7933D · no longer on the register · serial D-5188
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT A NEW FUEL SYSTEM HAD JUST RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED IN MIAMI, FL & HE FORGOT ABOUT THE NEW SYSTEM WHILE SWITCHING TANKS & ACCIDENTLY TURNED IT TO THE OFF POSITION. WHEN THE ENG QUIT HE REALIZED WHAT HE HAD DONE & SWITCHED BACK TO A FULL TANK. HE JUST HAD THE ENG RESTARTED WHEN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE 10,500 FT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN. A SMALL AMOUNT OF COCAINE & $19,200 IN CASH WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT. THE PLT HAD HELD A PRIVATE PLT'S CERTIFICATE WITH SINGLE & MULTI-ENG LAND RATINGS WHICH WAS REVOKED IN 1981 BECAUSE OF FAR VIOLATIONS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:39 pm from E33, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.