This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N951T
- History of the Flight:
On August 13, 2025, at about 2300 local time, a Beechcraft M35 Bonanza, N951T, registered to an airline transport pilot out of Frederick, Colorado, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Des Moines, New Mexico. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The cross-country flight originated from Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB/KPUB), Pueblo, Colorado, at about 2210 LT, and was destined to an unknown location (at the time of this writing).
According to preliminary automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, earlier in the day, at about 1940 LT, the airplane departed Erie Municipal Airport (EIK/KEIK), Erie, Colorado, on a flight to Pueblo. The airplane landed at 2050 LT. About 1h20m later, the airplane departed runway 8L at KPUB and entered a climbing right turn to an inflight cruising altitude 8,000 ft. The airplane was tracking south and the flight appeared uneventful.
At roughly 2253, the airplane's track stopped about 17 miles north of the Sierra Grande on both the Flightaware and ADS-B Exchange sites. However, Flightradar24 continued tracking the airplane south. At roughly 2255 LT, the airplane descended to an altitude of 7,500 ft. At 2258 LT, the airplane initiated a climb, which stopped at 7675 ft when it flew into the Sierra Grande, an extinct stratovolcano that has an elevation of 8,723 ft (see figure 1, 2, and 3).
Figure 1: Flightradar 24 end of track
Figure 2: Flightradar 24 end of track
Figure 2: The Sierra Grande (photo via wiki)
- Pilot Information:
The pilot's identity is unknown at this point. However, the current registered owner holds an airline transport certificate, with a most recent issue/update date of 7/10/2004, with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, and commercial privileges for airplane single-engine land. He also held a flight instructor certificate and a Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate. His third class FAA medical was issued on July 2025.
- Aircraft Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number D-6341, was manufactured in 1960. The Beechcraft Bonanza Model M35 is a five seat, retractable gear, single engine airplane. It is powered by a Continental Motors IO-470-N, 260 horsepower engine.
According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH):
This airplane is approved for the following type operations when the required equipment is installed and operational as defined here in
1. VFR day and night
2. IFR day and night
3. FAR 91 operations when all pertinent limitations and performance considerations are complied
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
unknown
- Weather:
(1) METARs:
METAR KCAO 140455Z AUTO 18008KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP105 T02060128
METAR KRTN 140453Z AUTO 34006KT 10SM CLR A3017 RMK AO2 SLPNO
(2) NWS Info:
According to the National Weather Service Area Forecast Discussion Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM, at 536 PM MDT Wed Aug 13 2025:
...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1133 AM MDT Wed Aug 13 2025 - Minor to moderate risk of flash flooding below burn scars through the work week, the becoming high this weekend into early next week. - After decreasing coverage of showers and thunderstorms today, monsoon moisture will begin to increase again near the Arizona border late Thursday, and over western and central New Mexico Friday. Fairly rich monsoon moisture will then remain in place across much of the forecast area through the first half of the coming work week with daily rounds of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. There will also be a risk of isolated flash flooding outside of burn scars Friday through next Wednesday.
Also...
.SHORT TERM... (This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 1133 AM MDT Wed Aug 13 2025 A downtick in shower and thunderstorm coverage with slightly above average high temperatures is expected this afternoon and evening due to the 593 to 594 dam upper high centroid moving from north central AZ to western NM. Isolated coverage is expected across the north central and Sacramento Mountains with scattered to numerous coverage across the Gila Mountains near Glenwood and Pleasanton where higher PWATs of around 0.9 inches will be present. Some of these showers and storms could move into the nearby highlands resulting in gusty and erratic winds at locations like Raton, Las Vegas and Gallup. Any shower and thunderstorm activity in the state will taper off after sunset with lingering mid level clouds across western and central NM heading into the dawn. The 592 to 593 dam upper high moves east to over the NM, CO, OK, and TX borders Thursday afternoon. This along with a trough entering the Pacific coast will allow for a traditional monsoon flow to setup across AZ with far western NM on the eastern edge of this flow. Scattered to numerous showers and storms will favor the mountains and nearby highlands along and west of the Continental Divide, where PWATs will be around 0.7 to 0.95 inches, with isolated to at most scattered showers and thunderstorms across the north central mountains and Sacramento Mountains. High temperatures will be 5 to 9 degrees above average areawide. Showers and thunderstorms taper off around sunset with activity lingering longest near the AZ/NM border && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 529 PM MDT Wed Aug 13 2025 Lingering SHRA/TS will focus over southwest NM this evening where strong and erratic outflow wind gusts up to 40KT are likely. This includes the KGUP area. Thicker mid and upper level clouds tonight will persist thru sunrise with light winds overnight. A slightly greater crop of SHRA/TS is expected Thursday after 1pm in the vcnty of the high terrain and west of the Cont Dvd. This activity will drift erratically southwest thru sunset with more strong wind gusts and brief rain.
(3) Sun and Moon Data:
According to the United States Naval Observatory, the official sunset occurred at 1948, end of civil twilight at 2015. At the time of the accident the Sun was -32 degrees below the horizon, and the Moon was -4 degrees under the horizon.
- Additional Information:
no
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