# NTSB DEN86FTE02: Beech 58, N26BW, Elbert, CO, November 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 2, 1985, 06:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Elbert, CO
- Coordinates: 39.220439, -104.529273 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2204&lon=-104.5293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16853
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FTE02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16853/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FTE02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undetermined, descent - uncontrolled
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A OPEN FIELD & WAS NOT FOUND FOR 4 DAYS. THE HOME BUILT ACFT, MAINTAINED LARGELY BY THE PLT, HAD THE ENGINE DESTROYED SO COMPLETELY THAT NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT. THE PLT REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN ACTING STRANGELY FOR A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO RADIO CALLS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE FLT AFTER THE INITIAL CLEARANCE. THE ACFT IMPACTED 70-80 DEGGEES NOSE DWN WITH THE WONGS LEVEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26BW-1989-03-27), registration cancelled 1989-03-27, S/N 222 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Ward Robert C WAG-A-BOND](https://openairdocs.org/model/ward-robert-c-wag-a-bond) (registry code 05655TP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 222
- Airframe hours: 35
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert C. Ward
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1985, 35 hours before
- Departed: 48V, ERIE, CO
- Destination: L32, OCEANSIDE, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,913 total, 35 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F
- Observed at: DEN, 29 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 19851102056049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851102056049A), Nov 2, 1985: Amtrwa WAGABOND, Elbert, CO, Destroyed. Reversed course for unknown reason and impacted ground in wings level nose down atitude. Cause undetermined.

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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