Beech 77 accident near Stanley, New Mexico, August 12, 2021
On August 12, 2021 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1981 Beech 77, registered N3873Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Stanley, New Mexico (Double Eagle II airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine performance due to lead fouling of the lower spark plugs, which resulted in an off airport forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2021 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Stanley, New Mexico · Double Eagle II · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 NO SERIES, built 1981 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N3873Y · no longer on the register · serial WA-265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed an airport at an elevation about 5,800 ft mean sea level (msl), and reported that, upon reaching about 6,700 ft msl, the airplane would not continue to climb. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing impacted a fence post, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that all lower spark plugs were severely lead fouled. According to the manufacturer, severely lead fouled spark plugs can lead to misfiring, resulting in a degradation of engine performance. It is likely that the fouled spark plugs resulted in a loss of engine performance and the airplane’s subsequent inability to maintain altitude.
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
What happened, in order
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the engine
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 6,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2020; 146 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 6,533 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAEG Albuquerque NM at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KBGD Borger TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04/2, 7,398 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from KAEG, 41 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KAEG 121650Z 16003KT 10SM CLR 26/12 A3024=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of accident airplane with damage to both wings
Photo 2 – View of damage to right wing and aileron
Photo 3 - Top: View of lower spark plugs; Left: Close-up view of no. 1 & 3 spark plugs; Right: View of no.2 & 4 spark plugs
Photo 4 – Close up view of no 1 and 3 lower spark plugs
Photo 5 - Close up view of no 2 and 4 lower spark plugsThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 16, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Examination Notes | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Spark Plug Manufacture Reference Guide | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Airplane POH Performance Climb Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Email Correspondence with Pilot | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Logbook Record Entry | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3873Y: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft 77 Skipper 113 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES 6,131 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Double Eagle II Airport · nearest airport
- Double Eagle II Airport · departed from
- Hutchinson County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,108 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA316.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.