# NTSB WPR26FA068: Beech K35, N9540R, Summer Lake, OR, December 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: December 23, 2025, 08:41 local (16:41 UTC) - Place: Summer Lake, OR · NW of Pole Butte - Coordinates: 42.851771, -120.9811 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8518&lon=-120.9811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Continental Aerospace Technologies, Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 202203 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA068 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202203/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA068 ## Preliminary report On December 23, 2025, about 0841 Pacific standard time, a Beech K35, N9540R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Summer Lake, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to preliminary ADS-B flight track data, the airplane departed Susanville Municipal Airport (SVE), Susanville, California about 0730 and flew northwest. About 0752, the pilot requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight following to McNary Field (SLE), Salem, Oregon, with Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). About 0759, the airplane was at an altitude of about 10,600 mean sea level (msl) and turned toward the west-northwest, and the pilot reported to the controller that he was turning due to clouds. The controller subsequently relayed a weather report and pilot report (PIREP) for light rime icing near the accident pilot’s location. The data showed that the airplane continued on a west-northwest heading for about 9 minutes and climbed to about 12,170 ft msl, before it began a left 250° turn to the northeast. The controller subsequently relayed another PIREP to the pilot for light rime icing in the area. ADS-B data showed that the airplane continued on a northeasterly heading, at altitudes that varied between 11,370 ft msl and 12,500 ft msl for about 19 minutes. About 0827, the airplane began a left turn to the northwest and climbed to about 12,800 ft msl. About 3 minutes later, the airplane turned right, to the north-northeast and climbed to about 13,100 ft msl. At 0833, the airplane entered a descending right turn and the pilot subsequently reported to the ARTCC controller that the engine lost power. The controller advised the pilot of the closest airport, which was about 13 miles northwest of their location. The pilot subsequently reported that he was in the clouds and that ice was accumulating on the airplane. ADS-B data showed that the airplane continued the descending right turn until the end of the flight track data. The last recorded ADS-B target was at 0841, at an altitude of 6,000 ft msl, about 2,300 ft north of the accident site. An Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued at 0857 and a ground search was initiated utilizing emergency locator transmitter (ELT) and iPhone crash detection signals being received. The wreckage was located that afternoon by local law enforcement about 13 miles southwest of Summer Lake, Oregon, at an elevation of 5,682 ft msl. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted wooded terrain near the Fremont National Forest. The wreckage debris path was about 135 ft in length and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 245°. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was an approximately 100 ft tall tree that had been topped, about 80 ft above ground level (AGL), 130 ft from the main wreckage. The right wingtip was located about 37 ft from the FIPC. The left stabilizer and elevator werelocated about 75 ft from the FIPC. The left wing was suspended in a tree about 20 ft above the ground about 110 ft from the FIPC. The main wreckage came to rest inverted, on a magnetic heading of about 238°. All major structural components of the airplane were located throughout the debris path. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech K35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Beech K35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151524), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9540R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9540R), registered now, S/N D-6103, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH K35 - Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-6103 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 5830.6 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 2022, 280 hours before - Departed: SVE, Susanville, CA - Destination: SLE, Salem, OR - Equipment: ADS-B ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Icing: Rime - Observed at: KLMT, 54 nm away - METAR: SPECI KLMT 231616Z 35004KT 4SM RA BR BKN008 BKN016 OVC031 02/01 A2978 ## 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 20251223019749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251223019749A), Dec 23, 2025: Beech K35, Silver Lake, OR, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On December 23, 2025, a non-instrument-rated private pilot flying a Beechcraft K35 en-route from susanville, California, to salem, Oregon, was fatally injured… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.