# NTSB DEN89FA146: Beech 35, N1887D, Glenrock, WY, June 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 24, 1989, 02:35 local (08:35 UTC)
- Place: Glenrock, WY
- Coordinates: 42.849781, -105.849372 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8498&lon=-105.8494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17592
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17592/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA146

## Probable cause

PROPER ALTITUDE NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. THE WEATHER/NIGHT CONDITIONS AND PILOT FATIGUE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPD JULESBURG, CO, BTN 1830 & 1900 MDT. HIS ORIGINAL DESTN WAS CASPER, WY, BUT DUE TO WX, HE FLEW TO BILLINGS, MT & LNDD AT ABT 2200 MDT. AT ABT 2347, HE TOOK OFF WITH ONE PAX ON A FLT TO BROOMFIELD, CO. BFR TAKEOFF, HE WAS ADZD THAT CLOUD BASES WERE AT 9000' MSL; HE REPLIED THEY WOULD NOT BE FLYING THAT HI. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PAX NOTED THEY WEREAT 7300'; THE PLT EXPLAINED THAT WOULD BE ABT 2800' TO 3000' AGL. LATER, THE PAX NOTED THEY WERE AT 7500'; THE PLT SAID THAT WOULD BE ABT 2400' AGL IN THAT AREA. AT ABT 0200 MDT, THE PAX BCM SLEEPY & DOZED; WHEN SHE AWOKE, SHE BELIEVED THE PLT HAD DOZED ALSO. SHE NUDGED HIM & HE STRAIGHTENED UP, SLAPPED HIS FACE & SAID HE WAS FINE. LATER, THE PAX DOZED AGAIN& AWOKE WHEN THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TOP OF RISING TERRAIN (ELEVATION APRX 7000'). SOME 4 TO 5 HRS LTR, WHEN BOTH REGAINEDCONSCIOUSNESS, THE PAX ASKED THE PLT IF HE FELL ASLEEP. HIS RESPONSE INDCD TO HER THAT HE HAD. THE PLT DIED AT ABT 0900.WX DELAYED A SEARCH. THE ACFT WAS FND IN LATE AFTERNOON AFTER THE ELT SIGNAL WAS RCVD BY SATELLITES & OVERFLYING ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1887D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1887D-1989-12-04), registration cancelled 1989-12-04, S/N D3159 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35
- Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-3159
- Airframe hours: 4382
- Engines: CONTINENTAL E-185-8 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Menter, Wade B.
- Registered owner: Menter, Wade B
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1988, 166 hours before
- Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Destination: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,039 total, 700 in this make and model, 762 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CPR, 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 19890624017309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890624017309A), Jun 24, 1989: Beech C35BEECH, Glenrock, WY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. En route at night VFR in and out of clouds and rain. Fatigued pilot apparently dozed off. Impacted hillside.

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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