Beechcraft B36TC N3000R

Summary

On 8 December 1996 at about 19:25 local time, a Beechcraft B36TC registered N3000R, operated by Thomas T. Laughlin, was involved in an accident near Jackson, Wyoming, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 December 1996 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

43.4691, -110.7606

Aircraft

Beechcraft B36TC

Registration

N3000R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas T. Laughlin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aspen → Jackson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97FA033

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to follow IFR procedures. High terrain, low ceiling, icing conditions, and a possible anomaly with the VOR were related factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After takeoff, the pilot contacted Flight Watch, while in VFR conditions, & obtained weather information, which included forecast icing conditions and a low ceiling at the destination (Jackson, WY). From about 170 miles southeast of Jackson, the pilot was cleared to proceed via Victor 238. During arrival, he was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to runway 36. Radar data indicated that while en route, the aircraft (acft) did not fly down the center of the airway, but was to the right by a few miles. The controller informed the pilot of this, & he responded that his VOR was 'kind of in and out.' The pilot's last transmission to the controller (before he was cleared for the approach) was that he was picking up moderate rime ice. At the 16 DME arc, the flight did not make a required turn to the west (onto the arc), but continued to parallel the airway. Shortly thereafter, radar contact was lost. Subsequently, the acft impact terrain near the top of a 10,741' peak, located approximately 11 miles southeast of the airport. Minimum altitude for the approach was 12,700' on the arc until passing west of the 165 deg radial, then 11,500' until inbound on the 186 deg radial. Evidence at the accident site indicated that after impact, an avalanche started, then the acft slid downhill about 300' before coming to rest partially buried in snow. Postcrash examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.