Beechcraft G36 N36JJ

Summary

On 4 July 2021 at about 00:38 local time, a Beechcraft G36 registered N36JJ, operated by LEC Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 July 2021 at 00:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Aspen, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.1679, -106.6551

Aircraft

Beechcraft G36

Registration

N36JJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

LEC Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aspen → Des Moines

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21FA305

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to navigate through mountainous terrain, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While attempting to navigate over mountainous terrain on a cross-country flight, the pilot flew the airplane into a canyon with high mountains. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data indicated that the pilot likely attempted to fly out of the canyon. The airplane impacted trees and rising terrain and was destroyed by impact forces and a postimpact fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. The pilot initially requested an instrument flight rules flight plan, which included an instrument departure that the airplane was not equipped to fly. The pilot then requested a visual flight rules departure and provided his own navigation. The investigation could not determine, from the available evidence for this accident, if the pilot was familiar with or prepared to fly visually through the mountain pass.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.