- Date
- October 11, 1991, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Grass Valley, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9559RBeech K35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911011045969A
- Case key
- 27475
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 inadvertent encounter with a microburst/downburst phenomena associated with thunderstorm activity. A factor in the accident was the failure of the pilot to adequately assess the weather conditions during the landing attempt.
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
In an oral statement, the pilot said that as he approached the airport he observed squall line activity and decided to orbit until the weather cleared. After the weather conditions visually improved, the pilot entered the pattern for landing. He stated that on short final approach the aircraft encountered severe turbulence and a down draft. The pilot initiated a go around, however, the aircraft rolled violently and the wing tip struck the ground. An airport attendant stated that he was in the office where the weather observation instruments are located at the time of the accident. He said that the winds were 30 to 40 knots with sudden 180 degree changes in direction at the time the pilot attempted his approach. Thunderstorm clouds were visible in the distance and the airport was experiencing intermittent heavy rain showers.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9559R
- Reported as
- Beech K35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D6125
- Airframe hours
- 2,380
- Engine
- Continental IO-470C, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mike Collishaw
- Registered owner
- Mike Collishaw
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 3, 1990 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- RHV · San Jose, CA
- Airport
- 017 · Nevada County, runway 7, 3,920 × 50 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
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 316 total · 57 in this make and model · 228 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 15 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.