# NTSB DEN74FTE79: Beech B35, N5243C, Nucla, CO, June 7, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 7, 1974
- Place: Nucla, CO · NUCLA, CO
- Location: 38.2667° N, 108.5487° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nucla, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2667&lon=-108.5487&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126417
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74FTE79
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FTE79

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1466   74/6/7    NUCLA,COLO          BEECH B35           CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 387
        TIME - 1220                    N5243C              PX-  0  2  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 266 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOPKINS MONTROSE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROOSEVELT,UT                NUCLA,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  14000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     240
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           25                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ACCDT SITE 4-500 FT LOWER THAN ARPT. ENCNTRD SEVERE TURB,WINDS GUSTING TO 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5243C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5243C-2011-09-20), registration cancelled 2011-09-20, S/N D-2635, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B35
- Registry model: [Beech B35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b35) (registry code 1151506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Hopkins Montrose

## 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 19740607015659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740607015659A), Jun 7, 1974: Beech B35, Nucla, CO, Substantial damage. Accdt site 4-500 ft lower than arpt. Encntrd severe turb,winds gusting to 25K.

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.

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