A Beechcraft King Air 90 crashed into the Capitan Mountains in Lincoln County connected to a fire that investigators believe erupted shortly after on Thursday, May 14, 2026. According to FlightAware, the medical aircraft crashed after midnight at 12:19 a.m. roughly 30 minutes after takeoff from the Roswell Air Center. The plane was headed to the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.MORE: Four dead in small aircraft crash in Lincoln County”Lincoln County has confirmed that a King Air aircraft traveling from Roswell, New Mexico to Sierra Regional Airport for medical transport did not arrive as scheduled in the early morning hours of May 14th,” Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said during Thursday’s press conference.The Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services were immediately notified after Communications and Radar lost airport personnel. According to Burns, emergency response protocols were initiated after reports were received of a missing aircraft as well as reports of fire in the Capitan Mountains.According to Lincoln County officials, all four members were confirmed dead at the scene. Aero Trans MedEvac confirmed four members of its team on board were killed at the time of the crash, stating, “Our hearts are with the families, loves ones, coworkers, and the first responders continuing operations at the scene during this incredibly difficult time.” On Thursday, KOAT spoke with former National Transportation Safety Board investigator Alan Diehl on possible causes of the crash. Aircraft Crash Details Beechcraft King Air 90 , MedEvac N249CPFlight Take Off, Roswell Air Center at 11:51 p.m. on Wednesday May 13, 2026Flight crashed on Thursday, May 14, 2026, after midnight at 12: 19 a.m. According to FlightAware, the highest altitude was recorded at 9,300 ft. before aircraft the crashed.Note: The highest point in the Capitan Mountains is at 10,201 ft. Additional DetailsFNS NOTAM Search | FAAhttps://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/resultsIssuing Airport: (SRR) Sierra Blanca RgnlNOTAM Number: 05/009Effective Time FrameBeginning: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 2256 (UTC) 3:56 P.M.Ending: Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2359EST (UTC) Affected AreasAirport: SRR Type: Automated Weather Broadcast System Status: Out of ServiceIssuing Airport: (SRR) Sierra Blanca RgnlNOTAM Number: 05/013Effective Time FrameBeginning: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 1313 (UTC)7:13 Ending: Monday, May 18, 2026, 2000EST (UTC)ILS StatusRunway: 24ILS Type: Instrument Landing SystemInstrument landing status: Out of ServiceAffected Facility: SRR,SIERRA BLANCA RGNL, RUIDOSO, NM.NOTAM Number: 6/0398 (ISSUED TODAY AT 7:40 .. Effective Time FrameValid From: 2605141440Valid To: 2612241440ESTProcedure Affected: Instrument Approach ProcedureILS OR LOC RWY 24, AMDT 1PROCEDURE NA EXCEPT FOR ACFT EQUIPPED WITH SUITABLE RNAV SYSTEM WITH GPS,CME VORTAC OUT OF SERVICE.”MedEvac flights are very challenging. This particular flight may have been challenging than normal because of the airport, the weather, the night conditions. Even though the King Air, which is the reported type of aircraft, has got a great safety record— in any kind of terrain situation where the weather and the terrain combined with the night operations, this can be very demanding,” Diehl told KOAT.”These crews in general are well trained. Of course the NTSB will want to listen to the cockpit voice recorder. It should have had one. Also, it should have been equipped with a terrain awareness warning system, which may have helped the crew. At this point in time, we don’t have the information,” Diehl added.”NTSB will very carefully go through this. Now, the fact that it apparently went down in rugged terrain and it burned will make the investigation more challenging, particularly the mechanical aspects of it. So, this is going to be a complex investigation for the NTSB and the FAA people on the scene,” Diehl said. “The ATIS (Airport Information Traffic System) reportedly was out of service may provide some may have caused some challenges for this crew. Clearly that’s what the NTSB will want to look at. What did this crew know about the weather and that’ll come out in the investigation,” Diehl said. On Thursday, Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood posted an emotional response to Facebook shortly after the crash, stating, “This is devastating loss.”The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB will further investigate the crash. As of Thursday, the cause of the crash is unknown. This is a developing story. Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. Download here
A Beechcraft King Air 90 crashed into the Capitan Mountains in Lincoln County connected to a fire that investigators believe erupted shortly after on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
According to FlightAware, the medical aircraft crashed after midnight at 12:19 a.m. roughly 30 minutes after takeoff from the Roswell Air Center. The plane was headed to the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.
MORE: Four dead in small aircraft crash in Lincoln County
“Lincoln County has confirmed that a King Air aircraft traveling from Roswell, New Mexico to Sierra Regional Airport for medical transport did not arrive as scheduled in the early morning hours of May 14th,” Lincoln County Manager Jason Burns said during Thursday’s press conference.
The Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services were immediately notified after Communications and Radar lost airport personnel. According to Burns, emergency response protocols were initiated after reports were received of a missing aircraft as well as reports of fire in the Capitan Mountains.
According to Lincoln County officials, all four members were confirmed dead at the scene. Aero Trans MedEvac confirmed four members of its team on board were killed at the time of the crash, stating, “Our hearts are with the families, loves ones, coworkers, and the first responders continuing operations at the scene during this incredibly difficult time.”
On Thursday, KOAT spoke with former National Transportation Safety Board investigator Alan Diehl on possible causes of the crash.
Aircraft Crash Details
- Beechcraft King Air 90 , MedEvac N249CP
- Flight Take Off, Roswell Air Center at 11:51 p.m. on Wednesday May 13, 2026
- Flight crashed on Thursday, May 14, 2026, after midnight at 12: 19 a.m.
- According to FlightAware, the highest altitude was recorded at 9,300 ft. before aircraft the crashed.
Note: The highest point in the Capitan Mountains is at 10,201 ft.
Additional Details
FNS NOTAM Search | FAA
https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/results
Issuing Airport: (SRR) Sierra Blanca Rgnl
NOTAM Number: 05/009
Effective Time Frame
Beginning: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 2256 (UTC) 3:56 P.M.
Ending: Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2359EST (UTC) Affected Areas
Airport: SRR
Type: Automated Weather Broadcast System
Status: Out of Service
Issuing Airport: (SRR) Sierra Blanca Rgnl
NOTAM Number: 05/013
Effective Time Frame
Beginning: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 1313 (UTC)7:13
Ending: Monday, May 18, 2026, 2000EST (UTC)
ILS Status
Runway: 24
ILS Type: Instrument Landing System
Instrument landing status: Out of Service
Affected Facility: SRR,SIERRA BLANCA RGNL, RUIDOSO, NM.
NOTAM Number: 6/0398 (ISSUED TODAY AT 7:40 ..
Effective Time Frame
Valid From: 2605141440
Valid To: 2612241440EST
Procedure Affected: Instrument Approach Procedure
ILS OR LOC RWY 24, AMDT 1
PROCEDURE NA EXCEPT FOR ACFT EQUIPPED WITH SUITABLE RNAV SYSTEM WITH GPS,CME VORTAC OUT OF SERVICE.
“MedEvac flights are very challenging. This particular flight may have been challenging than normal because of the airport, the weather, the night conditions. Even though the King Air, which is the reported type of aircraft, has got a great safety record— in any kind of terrain situation where the weather and the terrain combined with the night operations, this can be very demanding,” Diehl told KOAT.
“These crews in general are well trained. Of course the NTSB will want to listen to the cockpit voice recorder. It should have had one. Also, it should have been equipped with a terrain awareness warning system, which may have helped the crew. At this point in time, we don’t have the information,” Diehl added.
“NTSB will very carefully go through this. Now, the fact that it apparently went down in rugged terrain and it burned will make the investigation more challenging, particularly the mechanical aspects of it. So, this is going to be a complex investigation for the NTSB and the FAA people on the scene,” Diehl said.
“The ATIS (Airport Information Traffic System) reportedly was out of service may provide some may have caused some challenges for this crew. Clearly that’s what the NTSB will want to look at. What did this crew know about the weather and that’ll come out in the investigation,” Diehl said.
On Thursday, Lincoln County Sheriff Michael Wood posted an emotional response to Facebook shortly after the crash, stating, “This is devastating loss.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB will further investigate the crash. As of Thursday, the cause of the crash is unknown.
This is a developing story. Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. Download here
