- Date
- July 15, 2006, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Beckwourth, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N715DBeech C35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20060715013959A
- Case key
- 64120
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
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.
Analysis
The pilot lost directional control on the landing roll, and veered off the runway into a ditch. He said that he executed a normal touchdown, but encountered a crosswind gust that made the airplane veer off the right side of the runway. While attempting to recover, the right main struck a runway light. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway about 100 feet into a deep storm drain. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot and passenger noticed a fire begin in the engine compartment. The door was jammed, so they exited through the left rear window. The post impact fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot said that line personnel responded, but the fire extinguisher was not charged. It took emergency (volunteer) services about 45 minutes to respond to the site. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
Factual narrative
On July 15, 2006, about 0845 Pacific daylight time, a Beech C35, N715D, veered off the side of the runway, encountered obstacles and terrain, and nosed over at Nervino Airport, Beckwourth, California. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The cross-country personal flight departed Willits, California, about 0700, with a planned destination of Nervino. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot submitted a written report. He said that he executed a normal touchdown at Nervino. He encountered a crosswind gust that made the airplane veer off the right side of the runway. While attempting to recover, the right main struck a runway light. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway about 100 feet into a deep storm drain. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.
The pilot and passenger noticed a fire begin in the engine compartment. The door was jammed, so they exited through the left rear window. The post impact fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot said that line personnel responded, but the fire extinguisher was not charged. It took emergency (volunteer) services about 45 minutes to respond to the site.
The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N715D
- Reported as
- Beech C35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2986
- Engine
- Continental E-225, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Leon J Duste
- Registered owner
- LJD Investments LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Willits, CA
- Destination
- Beckwourth, CA
- Airport
- O02 · Nervino Airport, runway 25, 4,651 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- TRK, 32 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.