# NTSB DEN88FA030: Beech J35, N2EE, Knolls, UT, November 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1987, 18:30 local (Nov 26, 1987, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Knolls, UT
- Coordinates: 40.360698, -111.430732 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3607&lon=-111.4307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17342
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17342/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA030

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment(anoxia/hypoxia), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE LAST COMM WITH THE FLT WAS WHEN THE PLT CONTACTED ELKO RADIO AND REQUESTED THE SALT LAKE CITY WX. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 11500 FT AND VFR ON TOP. THE SPECIALIST ON DUTY WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE WX INFO DUE TO A COMPUTER SYS OUTAGE BUT RECOMMENDED THAT THE PLT CTC CEDAR CITY FLT WATCH FOR WX INFO. NO REC OF ANY FURTHER CONTACTS BY THE PLT COULD BE FOUND. APPROX 1 HR LATER, A WITNESS RPTD SEEING ACFT LIGHTS AT A LOW ALTITUDE HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION, NEAR THE CRASH SITE. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE WX AT THE TIME WAS SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS AND THE STATE HWY PATROL CONFIRMED THAT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXISTED IN THE AREA. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO THE DESERT IN A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN, STEEP RIGHT WING DOWN ATTITUDE ON A TRACK OF 170 DEGREES. NO EVIDENCE OF MECH FAILURE/MALF OF THE ACFT OR ITS ENG WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD A PRIOR HISTORY OF HYPOXIC PROBLEMS. THE ALT AT WHICH HE LAST REPORTED WAS IN THE AVERAGE SUB-HYPOXIC RANGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2EE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2EE-1993-06-15), registration cancelled 1993-06-15, S/N D5408 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH J35
- Registry model: [Beech J35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-j35) (registry code 1151522) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-5408
- Airframe hours: 6701
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hansen, Gordon L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 15, 1987, 100 hours before
- Departed: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,409 total, 143 in this make and model, 236 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 70 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 19871125081439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871125081439A), Nov 25, 1987: Beech J35, Knolls, UT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Operated aircraft at night into an area of a blizzard. Damage indicates loss of control occured. Icing a factor.

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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