Beechcraft V35 N5757K

Summary

On 19 February 2001 at about 03:18 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N5757K, operated by Leland C.Lewis, was involved in an accident near Wendover, Utah, 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

19 February 2001 at 03:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Wendover, Utah, United States

Coordinates

41.1464, -114.0314

Aircraft

Beechcraft V35

Registration

N5757K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Leland C.Lewis

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wendover → Eureka

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

DEN01FA064

3 people died.

The pilot flying at an altitude insufficient to clear surrounding terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot becoming lost/disoriented, his subsequent spatial disorientation, and dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness, who watched the non-instrument rated private pilot make the night takeoff, said there was a light rain falling and the skies were overcast. Radar data disclosed a primary target just east of Wendover on a southwesterly track. It made a turn and flew north, passing Wendover. It flew towards the northeast, then turned northwest and held this course, then made a 270 degree turn to the left, followed by another left turn of at least 270 degrees. It then continued on an easterly course until radar contact was lost. No mode C (altitude reporting) returns were recorded. The accident site was in mountainous terrain at the 6,944-foot level near the point where radar contact was lost. Examination of the wreckage indicated the airplane impacted terrain in a steep nose down attitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.