Beechcraft 23 N2325Z

Summary

On 21 March 2010 at about 22:00 local time, a Beechcraft 23 registered N2325Z was involved in an accident near Twenty Nine Palms, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 March 2010 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Twenty Nine Palms, California, United States

Coordinates

34.1264, -115.9428

Aircraft

Beechcraft 23

Registration

N2325Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Twenty Nine Palms → Chino

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA175

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's encounter with a wind shear/downdraft that exceeded the climb performance capabilities of the airplane during initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, after rotating and obtaining the best angle of climb airspeed, the airplane began descending "as if it had lost lift or something was pushing it down." The pilot said that the airspeed was still at best angle of climb airspeed but the airplane was descending. As impact with terrain was assured, the pilot set up for a forced landing. The airplane subsequently impacted rising terrain about 150 to 200 feet from the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to its right wing. The pilot reported that winds were variable at 6 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and added that he felt the accident was the direct result of wind shear and could not have been prevented or detected. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.