# NTSB DEN84FA049: Beech P35, N8675M, Near Dove Creek, CO, December 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 25, 1983, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Near Dove Creek, CO
- Coordinates: 37.760028, -108.900093 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7600&lon=-108.9001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16190
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16190/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA049

## 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 - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH P35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D7296
- Airframe hours: 2737
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 46; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19831225063619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831225063619A), Dec 25, 1983: Beech P35BEECH, Dove Creek, CO, Destroyed. Pilot proceeded into icing conditions during IFR flight and aircraft was unable to maintain altitude.

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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