Beechcraft 35/33 N400DJ

Summary

On 16 February 2014 at about 18:26 local time, a Beechcraft 35/33 registered N400DJ, operated by Arizona Cloudbusters Inc, was involved in an accident near Telluride, Colorado, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 February 2014 at 18:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Telluride, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Telluride Regional Airport (KTEX)

Coordinates

37.9603, -107.9297

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35/33

Registration

N400DJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1960

Engines

1

Operator

Arizona Cloudbusters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Telluride → Cortez

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14FA141

3 people died.

The airplane’s failure to obtain a positive climb rate, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane departed the airport (which is at an elevation of 9,070 ft mean sea level [msl]) for a day cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane wreckage was found 1/2 mile from the end of the departure runway in steep mountainous terrain 300 ft below a cliff band at an elevation of about 8,760 ft msl, which indicates that the airplane had not obtained a positive climb rate. The airplane impacted terrain in a wings-level attitude and was damaged by impact and a postimpact fire. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. At the high end of the airplane's estimated weight, it would have just met the airport's required climb performance to clear the terrain beyond the end of the runway. Other factors that may have been present at the time of the accident, including the weather, mountainous terrain, and snow or ice accumulation before takeoff, could have adversely affected the airplane's climb performance; however, it could not be determined to what extent these factors played a role. It is likely that the airplane did not establish a positive climb rate after takeoff and, based on the wreckage orientation, that the pilot flew the airplane directly into the terrain. It could not be determined what preflight planning the pilot conducted for the flight, including whether or not she received a weather briefing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.