Beechcraft 35 N8743A

Summary

On 24 April 2020 at about 20:00 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N8743A was involved in an accident near Currie, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 2020 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Currie, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

40.5339, -114.4139

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N8743A

Category

Airplane

Year built

1949

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chandler → Twin Falls

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA131

3 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a forced landing which resulted in a hard landing for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and two passengers departed on a cross-country flight. There was no significant weather, turbulence, or wind on the route of flight. When the airplane did not arrive at the destination, a search was initiated, and the wreckage was located in a remote mountain valley the following day. The airplane impacted level terrain at an elevation about 6,539 ft msl. The airplane impacted nose low in an approximate wings-level attitude on a southwesterly heading. The main wing fuel tanks and the auxiliary fuel tank were all damaged during the impact sequence; however, there was no fuel staining, no evidence of a post-impact fire, and no odor of fuel at the accident site. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed that the landing gear had partially pushed through the top portion of the wings and the flaps were extended at the time of impact, suggesting that the pilot may have been maneuvering for a forced landing and lost control resulting in a hard landing. The reason for the forced landing could not be determined based on the available evidence. The airplane’s fuel state at the time of departure could not be determined. The distance traveled on the flight route was consistent with consuming the fuel quantity in the main fuel bladders only. One of the family members had flown on the same route before and stated that sometimes they did not stop for fuel and completed the flight non-stop. There was no evidence that the pilot stopped to refuel during the accident flight. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.