What happened
On August 13, 2025, at approximately 2300 mountain daylight time, a Beech M3ly5 aircraft, registration N951T, crashed near Des Moines, New Mexico. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Preliminary ADS-B data indicates the aircraft departed from Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB) in Pueblo, Colorado, at approximately 2200. The aircraft was traveling on a southerly heading toward Texas. The final ADS-B data point recorded the aircraft at an altitude of 7,900 feet MSL, roughly 1/4 mile north of the crash site.
An Alert Notification (ALNOT) was issued on August 14, 2025, after the pilot failed to report for work in Uvalde, Texas. The New Mexico State Police located the accident site later that day. The impact occurred on the northern side of Sierra Grande Mountain at an elevation of approximately 7,810 feet MSL. The crash resulted in 2 fatal injuries for the pilot and passenger.
The investigation
Investigators found that the aircraft impacted wooded terrain. The first identified point of contact was a damaged tree approximately 20 feet tall. The wreckage debris path followed a magnetic heading of approximately 280° and spanned about 300 feet from the initial contact to the main wreckage and the furthest debris. Much of the wreckage was consumed by a post-crash fire.
During the site examination, the propeller assembly was found separated from the engine, located near the main wreckage. The engine also separated from the engine mounts and came to rest approximately 50 feet west of the main wreckage. All major structural components of the aircraft were accounted for at the site, and the wreckage was moved to a secure location for further study.