What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On February 28, 1999, at 0807 mountain standard time, a Beech 35-C33 debonair, N977MC, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain during initial climb after takeoff from Lake County Airport, Leadville, Colorado. The private pilot and his 2 passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner under title 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he was departing on runway 34 and the airplane "just didn't seem to have the power." The airplane impacted rising terrain and both wings were bent. (-23)pilot departed Leadville, CO(lxv) on runway 34. Wind was 360 at 10 KTS. Gusting to 17KTS. Two passengers on board, baggage and 34 gals. Of fuel. Temperature 23 degrees f. airport elevation 9927 ft. a/c engine normally aspirated. Pilot reported initialing a slow climbing turn to the south 1-2 miles after departure. A/c was performing slow but steady. At approx. 8:06, the a/c began to sink, however, there was no loss of power. The a/c was approaching rising terrain with no alternatives. The a/c impacted rising terrain and both wings were damages. No injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON FEBRUARY 28, 1999, AT 0807 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A BEECH 35-C33 DEBONAIR, N977MC, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH TERRAIN DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM LAKE COUNTY AIRPORT, LEADVILLE, COLORADO. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS 2 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE PILOT/OWNER UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT WHICH WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 34 AND THE AIRPLANE "JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE POWER." THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN AND BOTH WINGS WERE BENT. (-23)PILOT DEPARTED LEADVILLE, CO(LXV) ON RUNWAY 34. WIND WAS 360 AT 10 KTS. GUSTING TO 17KTS. TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD, BAGGAGE AND 34 GALS. OF FUEL. TEMPERATURE 23 DEGREES F. AIRPORT ELEVATION 9927 FT. A/C ENGINE NORMALLY ASPIRATED. PILOT REPORTED INITIALING A SLOW CLIMBING TURN TO THE SOUTH 1-2 MILES AFTER DEPARTURE. A/C WAS PERFORMING SLOW BUT STEADY. AT APPROX. 8:06, THE A/C BEGAN TO SINK, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO LOSS OF POWER. THE A/C WAS APPROACHING RISING TERRAIN WITH NO ALTERNATIVES. THE A/C IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN AND BOTH WINGS WERE DAMAGES. NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.