The pilot took off at night in the company of pilots flying 2 other aircraft, a Cessna 150 and a Piper PA-22. N719K, a Beech A36 Bonanza, was flying ahead of the other 2 aircraft. The pilot of one of the other aircraft stated that the Bonanza pilot would usually fly at a slower airspeed when in the company of slower aircraft. He could see the Bonanza's position lights, but could not tell whether the pilot might have left the gear or flaps extended. Subsequently, the Bonanza crashed on level, dry, hard packed, desert terrain approximately 10 miles north of Columbus, NM, while traveling southbound. Mountains were located just north of the crash site. An exam of the wreckage revealed the aircraft had impacted in a slight nose low, left wing low attitude with the gear extended. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks, but there was extensive damage to the aircraft. The pilots of the 3 aircraft were using the same radio frequency, but no calls were received from the Bonanza pilot. The night was moonless; the area north of Columbus was described as a 'black hole' on dark nights.