Raytheon A36 accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, August 7, 2005
On August 7, 2005, a Raytheon A36, registered N838DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire (Boire airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2005
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire · Boire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon A36
- Registration
- N838DM · registry record · serial E-3410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power, and subsequently impacted trees during the ensuing forced landing. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Both fuel tanks were compromised; however, there was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area surrounding the accident site. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 95 total hours, and 10 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 4 months prior to the accident. The airplane was owned by the pilot and sold about 5 months prior the accident. With regard to the accident, the pilot informed the new owner and a mechanic that the airplane did not have any mechanical problems, and he thought that he could make it back to his home airport when he experienced a power loss due to fuel exhaustion.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 95 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2006; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH
- Destination: ORH Worcester MA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from ASH, 1 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.