Beecraft Bonanza accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico, March 30, 2024
On March 30, 2024 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1961 Beecraft Bonanza, registered N9989R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Angel Fire, New Mexico (Angel Fire airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff with a gusting crosswind..
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2024 · about 9:15 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Angel Fire, New Mexico · Angel Fire · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beecraft Bonanza, built 1961
- Registration
- N9989R · no longer on the register · serial D-6632
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff with a gusting crosswind, the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder an elevator inputs, however, the airplane continued to veer left, and he aborted the takeoff. The airplane exited the left side of runway and impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing on runway 35 with wind from 250° at 12 to 15 knots, gusting to 18 to 20 knots.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 313 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 225 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 7, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aspen Aircraft LLC
The flight
- Destination: HSD Piedmont OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 8,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 26 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KLVS, 22 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLVS 302053Z AUTO 22026G39KT 10SM CLR 19/M12 A2991 RMK AO2 PK WND 23041/2033 SLP041 T01941122 56023 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 24, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | 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
- N9989R: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Continental IO-470 4,724 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Angel Fire Airport · nearest airport
- Sundance Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in New Mexico 1,423 since 1982 · 184 in the last ten years
- New Mexico 3,113 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA120.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.