Beechcraft P35 N9661Y

Summary

On 6 August 1989 at about 00:45 local time, a Beechcraft P35 registered N9661Y, operated by Howard, Richard H., was involved in an accident near Lovell, Wyoming, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 1989 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lovell, Wyoming, United States

Coordinates

44.8305, -108.3910

Aircraft

Beechcraft P35

Registration

N9661Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Howard, Richard H.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Billings → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89LA186

1 person had minor injuries.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CONTINUE OUT OF THE CANYON OR TURN AROUND. THE TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT WAS FLYING TWO RELATIVES AND A FRIEND ON A FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE SAID HE FLEW UP A CANYON. AS HE APCHD THE UPPER END, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE PLANE COULD NOT CLIMB FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN & THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN AROUND. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A STAND OF TREES. AS THE PLANE DESCENDED THROUGH THE TREES, THE WINGS, TAIL, AND ENGINE WERE SEVERED, BUT THE CABIN SECTION REMAINED INTACT. THE ELT ACTIVATED & SEARCH PERSONNEL RESCUED THE SURVIVORS THE NEXT MORNING. ELEVATION OF THE ACDNT SITE WAS ABOUT 7900 FT; DENSITY ALT WAS ESTD TO BE ABOUT 10,000 FT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.