Beechcraft S35 N4444K

Summary

On 5 October 2020 at about 19:04 local time, a Beechcraft S35 registered N4444K was involved in an accident near Telluride, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 October 2020 at 19:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Telluride, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Telluride Municipal (TEX)

Coordinates

37.9146, -107.7528

Aircraft

Beechcraft S35

Registration

N4444K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Oklahoma City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21FA007

2 people died.

The pilot’s loss of control during the climb to cruise flight resulting in the airplane’s impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to not climb to a higher altitude before proceeding over high terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight from a high-elevation (9,078 ft mean sea level) airport. Automated dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane proceeded east into a box canyon with rising terrain. The data showed that, before entering the box canyon, the airplane did not climb toward the west, where there was lower terrain. The data also showed that the airplane was in a gradual climb for about 8 miles into the canyon and that the airplane then made a right turn to the south just before impacting terrain. No known radio distress calls were received from the pilot. The airplane wreckage showed evidence of a nearly vertical impact. Postaccident examination found no preimpact anomalies with the airframe, engine, flight controls, and propeller. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The elevation of the accident site was 11,823 ft mean sea level. The surrounding terrain to the north, east, and south was higher than the accident site elevation, with peaks ranging from about 12,000 to 14,000 ft. In addition, the calculated density altitude in the area of the accident site was about 13,604 ft, which would have diminished the airplane’s climb performance. There was no significant turbulence in the area. Thus, the pilot likely turned the airplane toward higher terrain and into the box canyon before the airplane could gain enough altitude to traverse the high terrain, resulting in a loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.