Beechcraft K35 N3076C

Summary

On 2 September 2000 at about 03:10 local time, a Beechcraft K35 registered N3076C was involved in an accident near Manitowish Watr, Wisconsin, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 died, 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 2000 at 03:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Manitowish Watr, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Manitowish Waters Airport (D25)

Coordinates

46.1298, -89.8805

Aircraft

Beechcraft K35

Registration

N3076C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Green Bay → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI00FA284

2 people died.

the pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the trees during an approach on a dark, low overcast night, the pilot's improper use of an IFR procedure without clearance, and the pilot's improper in-flight decision to attempt an IFR approach without clearance. Factors were the local weather being below published minimums, the trees, and the dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain during an approach. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated on an IFR clearance to VFR conditions on top. The flight acknowledged radar termination but continued to squawk 0106. A witness heard a crash about 2210 and said the ceiling was low and overcast. A front passenger stated she thought the pilot was performing an IFR approach and it was a normal approach. She said that she saw the runway lights. She stated that she remembers hitting something and the pilot saying, "OH NO, OH NO." She said that the pilot was using the emap GPS. A rear seat passenger was interviewed. He stated that during the flight from GRB to D25, the airplane was flying above clouds. He said that he saw runway lights, heard a rumbling or growling sound, like "RRRRRahRRRRRahRRRRR." He and another rear seat passenger both stated that the pilot said, "It's not working, it's not working." He said that the sound occurred about 300 feet or about a minute prior to hitting. The front passenger said that she was not aware of the pilot's conversation that the rear seat passengers heard. The sky condition was 400 feet overcast. The airport's NDB and GPS approach landing minima weather section listed 700 [feet ceiling]-1 [statute mile visibility] and 500-1 respectively. A clearance was not issued to the flight to perform an approach. The ADF's switch was found in the off position. The fuel selector's sump valve, spring, and screen were found coated with a brown colored media. Control continuity was established to all flight surfaces. Control continuity was established to the engine. A Garmin emap handheld GPS was found near the wreckage. A handheld radio, marked, JD-200, was found near the wreckage. A spray can, marked "HEET Starting Fluid", was found in the wreckage. The FAA CAMI report stated CHLORPHENIRAMINE and ACETAMINOPHEN were detected. The engine was test run and it produced full power. A radio shop witness said that the airplane's installed radio and GPS were inoperative.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.