Beechcraft V35 N35AW

Summary

On 24 November 2020 at about 14:28 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N35AW was involved in an accident near Deltaville, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 November 2020 at 14:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Deltaville, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

37.5731, -76.3570

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35

Registration

N35AW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Saluda → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA053

1 person died.

An uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain following an in-flight collision with seagulls.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a personal local flight to test the autopilot system. Two fishermen reported seeing the airplane fly through a flock of seagulls, followed by two birds falling to the water. A third witness stated that he heard a loud noise, then saw the airplane make a left turn followed by two spirals before it impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. No avian remains were discovered during the postaccident examination; however, it is likely that any remains that may have been present would have been consumed by the significant post-impact fire. Based on the witness statements, it is likely that the airplane collided with birds inflight, after which the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.