Beechcraft S-35 N5748K

Summary

On 20 November 1990 at about 04:40 local time, a Beechcraft S-35 registered N5748K, operated by Crimmins, William H., was involved in an accident near Kingman, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 November 1990 at 04:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Kingman, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

35.2409, -113.7609

Aircraft

Beechcraft S-35

Registration

N5748K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Crimmins, William H.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Junction → Thermal

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX91FA040

2 people died.

PROPER ALTITUDE NOT MAINTAINED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT FATIGUE, IMPROPER USE OF THE AUTO PILOT, AND PILOT COMPLACENCY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 57 YEAR OLD PILOT DEPARTED LATE IN THE DAY FOR A 7 TO 8 HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO BEAT SOME INCOMING WEATHER. HE HAD BEEN PHEASANT HUNTING FOR TWO DAYS PRIOR. THE SECOND LEG OF HIS TRIP WAS A DARK NIGHT DEPARTURE FOR WHICH HE FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND INDICATED 12500 FEET MSL AS HIS CRUISING ALTITUDE. RADAR DATA DISCLOSED THAT HE CLIMBED TO 13100 FEET AT ONE POINT, HOWEVER, HIS OVERALL ROUTE OF FLIGHT FOR NEARLY 3 HOURS WAS ONE OF A MEANDERING AND UNDULATING TRACK. THE APPROXIMATE LAST 10 MINUTES OF FLIGHT WAS A GRADUAL ON TRACT DESCENT TO IMPACT AT ABOUT 5700 FEET, ABOUT AN HOUR SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION. HE CARRIED NO SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN. FRIENDS INDICATED HE FREQUENTLY TOOK 'CAT NAPS' ON LONG CROSS COUNTRY TRIPS WHILE LETTING THE AUTO PILOT FLY THE AIRCRAFT. HIS AUTOPILOT WAS OPERATIONAL EXCEPT FOR THE ALTITUDE HOLD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.