# Accident 20020726018419A: Beech S35, Clearspring, MD, July 26, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2002, 11:37 local time
- Place: Clearspring, MD
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6517° N, 77.9719° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6517&lon=-77.9719&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5761K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5761K-2003-12-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech S35 (registry code 1151532, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD02FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02FA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020726018419A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) BONANZA N5761K DEPARTED HAGERSTOWN AIRPORT AT APPROX. 1000 EDT AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE WILLIAMSPORT FSS AT 0615 EDT. THE PILOT RETURNED SHORTLY THEREAFTER DUE TO WEATHER AND TAXIED TO THE GA SERVICE AREA AND REFUELED 7 GAL OF GAS. APPROX. 1110 EDT N5761 DEPARTED AGAIN VFR WITH THE INTENTION OF CONTACTING WASHINGTON CENTER FOR FLIGHT FOLLOWING, HE CONTACTED WASH. CTR. FOR FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND A "CLEARANCE ON TOP", ATC ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW TO BE IDENTIFIED ON RADAR. 2. THE PILOT NEVER REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE AND USED NON-STANDARD TERMINOLOGY IN HIS REQUEST. 3. WASHINGTON WAS WORKING NUMEROUS IFR TRAFFIC ABOVE HIM. WASHINGTON CENTER SUGGESTED THAT THE PILOT RETURN TO HAGERSTOWN AIRPORT AND REMAIN VFR. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED (CFIT) THE WEST SIDE OF FAIRVIEW MOUNTAIN ON A HEADING OF 060 DEG. (12 MILES SW OF HGR) AT APPROX. THE 900 FT. LEVEL. TWO WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRCRAFT PASS OVERHEAD AND CRASH, THE 911 OPERATOR RECEIVED THE CALL AT 1137 EDT. THE WEATHER REPORTED BY HGR AT 1033 EDT WAS: WIND CALM, CEILING 1100, 2200 18/16 VIS. 10 MILES 30.14 IN. THE WEATHER TO THE SOUTHWEST OF HGR WAS IMC.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD02FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02FA075), Jul 26, 2002: Beech S-35 (N5761K), Clear Spring, MD, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with rising terrain. Factors included dense fog and mountainous terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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