Beech 36 accident near New Braunfels, Texas, March 16, 1991
On March 16, 1991, a Beech 36, registered N23535, was destroyed in an accident near New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE AND FAILURE TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, LOW CEILING, RAIN, AND FOG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1991
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas · New Braunfels · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N23535 · no longer on the register · serial E-1177
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING AN IFR FLIGHT FROM EL PASO, TEXAS, TO NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO THE NEW BRAUNFELS AIRPORT. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE APPROACH WAS BELOW PUBLISHED MINIMUMS OF 600 FEET AND 1 1/4 MILES VISIBILITY AND THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THIS FACT PRIOR TO INITIATING THE APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED THROUGH THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE AND IMPACTED RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH ITS LEFT WING DURING A STEEP LEFT TURN AND CARTWHEELED TO ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 688 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 604 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 5,370 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:56 am from RNB, 30 miles away
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.