# Accident 20030408017639A: Beech V35A, Wilmington, DE, April 8, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2003, 09:55 local time
- Place: Wilmington, DE
- Airport: Greater Wilmington-New Castle
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Initial Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5806° N, 75.6156° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5806&lon=-75.6156&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7144N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7144N-2018-01-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech V35A (registry code 1151544, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35A
- Reported engine: CONT IO520BB
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03FA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030408017639A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN AND ON APPROACH TO WILMINGTON DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ILG) DESCENDING FROM 5000 FEET THROUGH 3000 FEET. AIRCRAFT WAS IN CONTACT WITH PHILADELPHIA APPROACH CONTROL AND WAS ASKED TO CLIMB BACK TO 4000 FEET DUE TO CONFLICTING TRAFFIC. AIRCRAFT WAS GIVEN ONE TURN IN A HOLDING PATTERN AT 4000 FEET PRIOR TO COMMENCING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 1 AT ILG. AIRCRAFT WAS TOLD TO DESCEND TO 2000 FEET AND WAS GIVEN VECTORS TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER. JUST PRIOR TO THE OUTER MARKER, AND ESTABLISHED ON THE LOCALIZER, THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE OF THE CONTROLLER. AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA (HELICOPTER) HAD REPORTED ICING CONDITIONS AT 4000 FEET. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF DELAWARE ROUTES 9 AND 13 NEAR DELAWARE CITY, DE. A SUBSEQUENT LOCATION WAS IDENTIFIED AS 4667 WRANGLE HILL ROAD, BETWEEN CLARKS CORNER ROAD AND DRAGOON CREEK. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT AN APPROXIMATE 80 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 NYC03FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03FA079), Apr 8, 2003: Raytheon V35A (N7144N), Delaware City, DE, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor in the accident was instrument meteorological conditions.

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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