20010701039859A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Beech H35 · Chitina, AK · July 1, 2001

Date: July 1, 2001 · 15:00 local
Place: Chitina, AK
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5429D
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC01LA080
Reported as: Beech H35
Reported engine: Continental O470G
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,100 total1,000 in this make and model12 in the last 90 days

N5429DRegistration cancelled Apr 9, 2013 · Beech H35S/N D-4922 · Built 1957 Airframe modelBeech H35 Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) According to the pilot, the flight path took the aircraft over a mountain ridgeline at an altitude of 6,000 feet MSL. As the aircraft passed over the ridgeline it encountered a sever downdraft that caused the aircraft to descend at a rate of approximately 3,000 feet per minute. The pilot stated he only had time to add full available power and maximum RPM before the aircraft impacted the glacier. The aircraft came to a stop at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet MSL. The aircraft was destroyed due to the impact. The pilot and passenger received only minor injuries due to the impact with the glacier. The pilot and passenger walked from the crash scene to the highway approximately seven miles from the accident site. Passenger confirmed pilot's statements. No flight plan filed and the pilot did not have a current medical certificate.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FLIGHT PATH TOOK THE AIRCRAFT OVER A MOUNTAIN RIDGELINE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 6,000 FEET MSL. AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER THE RIDGELINE IT ENCOUNTERED A SEVER DOWNDRAFT THAT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT STATED HE ONLY HAD TIME TO ADD FULL AVAILABLE POWER AND MAXIMUM RPM BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GLACIER. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET MSL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE IMPACT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES DUE TO THE IMPACT WITH THE GLACIER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WALKED FROM THE CRASH SCENE TO THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. PASSENGER CONFIRMED PILOT'S STATEMENTS. NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED AND THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC01LA080Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportChitina, AKThe pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are variable winds, and a downdraft.Jul 1, 2001 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N5429D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19870726038349ATakeoff Ground Roll · Nikolai, AKReported a crosswind blew the aircraft off the runway on takeoff. Pilot did not know correct crosswind procedure.Jul 26, 1987 · Substantial damage