On June 18, 1986, a Beech A36 (registration N333RS) was involved in an aviation accident near Mosquero, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during low-altitude flight, which resulted in a spin and impact with the terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft flying at low altitude pitched up steeply, climbed briefly, rolled left, and crashed into the ground with no mechanical failures found.
What happened
The aircraft was observed operating at a very low altitude when it suddenly pitched up to a steep angle. Following this maneuver, the plane climbed approximately 400 feet before rolling off onto its left wing. The aircraft then descended directly into the ground, resulting in an explosion and fire upon impact.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that the landing gear was fully retracted while the flaps were extended to 12 degrees. Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction involving the airframe, engine, propeller, flight controls, or any other aircraft systems.
Findings
The sequence of events suggests a loss of control due to aerodynamic stall during low-altitude operations. The absence of mechanical failures indicates that pilot input or environmental factors likely contributed to the steep pitch-up and subsequent roll.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during low-altitude flight, which resulted in a spin and impact with the terrain.