# NTSB ANC01LA080: Beech H35, N5429D, Chitina, AK, July 1, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2001, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Chitina, AK - Coordinates: 61.454444, -144.995559 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4544&lon=-144.9956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52631/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are variable winds, and a downdraft. ## Analysis The certificated private pilot said that the purpose of the flight was to show his friend some Alaskan scenery, in an area of mountainous, snow-covered terrain. As the flight progressed, the wind increased, and a strong downdraft caused the airplane to descend rapidly. The pilot applied full engine power in an attempt to climb, but the airplane continued to descend, rapidly lost airspeed, and subsequently collided with an area of snow-covered terrain. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2001, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Beech H35 airplane, N5429D, sustained substantial damage when it struck mountainous terrain, about 20 miles southwest of Chitina, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Cordova Municipal Airport, Cordova, Alaska, about 1420. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on July 2, the pilot related that he and a friend were flying from Cordova, at 6,000 feet mean sea level, en route to a private airstrip located near Palmer, Alaska. He added that the purpose of the flight was to show his friend some Alaskan scenery. He said he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached an area of mountainous, snow-covered terrain. While in level, cruise flight, he said the wind increased, and a strong downdraft caused the airplane to descend rapidly. He said he applied full engine power in an attempt to climb, but the airplane continued to descend, rapidly lost airspeed, and subsequently collided with an area of snow-covered terrain. The pilot noted that the airplane was damaged so severely that it may not be repairable. The pilot stated that there was no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - snow covered ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5429D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5429D-2013-04-09), registration cancelled 2013-04-09, S/N D-4922, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D 4922 - Airframe hours: 4915.2 - Engines: Continental O-470G 240 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter P. Granus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2001, 6.8 hours before - Departed: CVD, Cordova, AK - Destination: PAQ, Palmer, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 21, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 915 total, 307 in this make and model, 915 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010701039859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010701039859A), Jul 1, 2001: Beech H35, Chitina, AK, Destroyed. (-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… ## Other investigations on N5429D (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC87LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA111), Jul 27, 1987: Beech H35 (N5429D), Nikolai Creek, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC67F0269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0269), Sep 23, 1966: Beech H35 (N5429D), Waterloo, IA, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.