DEN84FA049

NTSB accident investigation · Beech P35 · Near Dove Creek, CO · December 25, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
December 25, 1983, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
Place
Near Dove Creek, CO
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N8675MBeech P35
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19831225063619A
Case key
16190

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Hazardous weather advisory - disregardedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Flight into known adverse weather - attemptedPilot in commandCause
Wing - iceFactor
Visual lookout - poorPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
Altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

The acft collided with mountainous terrain about 30 miles northwest of cortez co. the plt was on an IFR flt plan and had been advised before flt of hazardous icing conditions enroute. When the acft iced up the plt reversed course and even though descending below mea he managed to stay clear of the terrain until he turned southeast toward cortez over higher terrain. He was out of direct radio contact with denver center because of his altitude. Denver was able to relay through an airliner until all contact was lost at 0927 MST. A search was initiated and by ELT help the acft waslocated 3 hours after radar contact was lost. The plts handbook for the Beech 35 stated: 'warning, flt in known icing conditions prohibited'. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the acft impacted tall pine trees in a wings level 10-15 deg nose low attitude. The acft came to final rest in a densely forested snow covered area between 2 large pine trees. Shoulder harnesses were not installed in the acft.

Aircraft

Registration
N8675M
Reported as
Beech P35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D7296
Airframe hours
2,737
Engine
Continental IO-470-N, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
George Chamberlin
Registered owner
Bonanza Flyers, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 5, 1983 · 14 hours before
Departed
SDL · Scottsdale, AZ
Destination
GUC · Gunnison, CO
Flight plan
IFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
649 total · 239 in this make and model · 526 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,000 ft overcast
Temperature
36 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CE2, 20 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.