Beech C-12C accident near Belen, New Mexico, November 26, 1991
On November 26, 1991, a Beech C-12C, registered N783MC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belen, New Mexico (Alexander Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LAND AT THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1991
- Place
- Belen, New Mexico · Alexander Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-12C
- Registration
- N783MC · registry record · serial 73-22251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CFI BRIEFED HIS TWO RATED PILOTS ON THE TASKS, CONDITIONS AND STANDARDS FOR A SHORT FIELD LANDING TECHNIQUE, AND TOOK THE CONTROLS AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT TO DEMONSTRATE A SHORT FIELD LANDING TECHNIQUE. ACCORDING TO THE THREE PILOTS ON BOARD, THE ENTIRE APPROACH, INCLUDING AIRSPEED, RATE OF DESCENT, AND APPROACH ANGLE, APPEARED NORMAL. TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE 22 INCHES SHORT OF THE LANDING SURFACE. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, THE RIGHT WING DIPPED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. THE RIGHT WING AND PROPELLER MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, EVENTUALLY DEPARTING THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR HAD COLLAPSED INTO THE WHEEL WELL.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,173 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 25, 1991; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,900 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 11:45 pm
- Runway 3, 6,600 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.