Accident Overview
On a moonless night, a pilot took off in a Beech A36 Bonanza (registration N719K) accompanied by pilots flying two other aircraft: a Cessna 150 and a Piper PA-22. The Bonanza was flying ahead of the other two aircraft. One of the other pilots reported that the Bonanza pilot would usually fly at a slower airspeed when in the company of slower aircraft.
Sequence of Events
The pilot of one of the other aircraft could see the Bonanza's position lights but could not determine whether the pilot might have left the landing gear or flaps extended. Subsequently, the Bonanza crashed on level, dry, hard-packed desert terrain approximately 10 miles north of Columbus, New Mexico, while traveling southbound. Mountains were located just north of the crash site.
Wreckage Examination
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft had impacted in a slight nose-low, left-wing-low attitude with the landing gear extended. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The aircraft sustained extensive damage.
Communications
The pilots of the three aircraft were using the same radio frequency, but no calls were received from the Bonanza pilot. The night was moonless, and the area north of Columbus was described as a "black hole" on dark nights.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not state a probable cause.