Beech H-18 accident near Tatum, NM
On July 1, 2002, a Beech H-18 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tatum, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 1, 2002
- Place
- Tatum, NM
- Aircraft
- Beech H-18 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.441°N, 103.604°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020709X01075
Official records · FTW02FA195
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 1, 2002, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Beech H-18 twin-engine airplane, N835K, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while descending near Tatum, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Taos Regional Airport, Taos, New Mexico, at an unspecified time. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the owner of the airplane reported the pilot had flown he and his wife to Taos on the morning of the accident, arriving at approximately 1105 after an uneventful flight. The owner said the pilot stopped the airplane and helped them unload their luggage into a rental vehicle. The owner further stated that he and his wife left the airport at approximately 1130 but did not observe the departure of their airplane. In a telephone interview, and in a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), a witness who was unloading feed at a farm house approximately 300 yards from the accident site reported hearing the "distinctive sound of a radial engine" just before the crash. He also stated that right after that his fellow worker exclaimed "Oh my gosh!" The witness further reported that he turned around and heard a loud "crashing noise," and that he saw a big cloud of dust forming above the truck trailer. The witness stated that he then saw
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
- Piper PA-32-300, Dec 26, 1982
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Jun 25, 1992
- Cessna 421C, Feb 11, 1985
- Beech 58, Mar 26, 1982
Browse: New Mexico · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
