Beechcraft 35 N3853N

Summary

On 29 September 2003 at about 11:30 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N3853N was involved in an accident near Belen, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 2003 at 11:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Belen, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Alexander Municipal (E80)

Coordinates

34.6367, -106.8450

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N3853N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belen → Los Alamos

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DEN03FA157

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control immediately after takeoff due to spatial disorientation. A factor was the dark night light conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated private pilot departed on runway 21 for a night VFR cross-country flight. He climbed to approximately 300 feet and started a turn northbound; his turn rate was calculated to be 5 degrees per second. A standard rate turn is 3 degrees per second. During the turn, the airplane's airspeed increased from 93 mph to 151 mph; it impacted the ground approximately 1 minute 18 seconds after lift off. It was a dark, moonless night, approximately 90 minutes prior to sunrise. To the south, west and north of the airport, it was minimally populated and there were very few lights. The airplane first impacted the ground on its right wing tip and cartwheeled; the airplane's debris was distributed over 537 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.