Beechcraft 35 N9K

Summary

On 29 December 1989 at about 17:15 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N9K, operated by Griffin, Thomas E., was involved in an accident near Tularosa, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 December 1989 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Tularosa, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

33.0707, -106.0208

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N9K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Griffin, Thomas E.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Alamogordo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN90LA037

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE ROAD SIGN DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE ADVERSE WEATHER WAS A REALTED FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT RCVD A WX BRIEFING & WAS WARNED OF MARGINAL WX CONDS ALONG THE ROUTE. WHILE IN FLT, HE INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO IMC & ELECTED TO LAND ON A PAVED ROAD. HE RPRTD THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE 'FAILED TO SEE A HIGHWAY MARKER AT THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT' & THE ACFT'S LEFT WING TIP HIT THE MARKER & WAS DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE WX IN THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AREA WAS: 500 TO 1000 FT OVC, VIS 4 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.