Beech 35-B33 accident near San Jose, CA
On September 19, 1998, a Beech 35-B33 (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Jose, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 19, 1998
- Place
- San Jose, CA
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.380°N, 121.899°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X11087
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 18, 1998, about 2235 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech 35-B33, N486W, descended into hilly terrain in San Jose, California. The aircraft was destroyed during the impact sequence and postcrash fire. The pilot and passenger both received fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, about 2220. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. An eyewitness, who was looking out her window about 2235 on the night of the accident, reported seeing an aircraft west of the Anderson Reservoir. She stated that the aircraft's nose was pointed downward and that its red and green lights were spiraling around as it descended. She was able to watch it for about 5 seconds before it disappeared behind the hill west of the reservoir. After it disappeared she saw a brief flash of light against the sky. Her window was open but she reported that she did not hear any noises that she could associate with the aircraft. She said that the weather at the time was clear with calm winds. Her home is located 3.7 miles south of the accident site. Another witness, who was camping about 0.25 miles southeast of the crash site, reported hearing the sound of an aircraft flying overhead from south to north. He stated that the he had gone to bed about 2200 that night and was awakened by loud sustained engine sounds which he described as "like a kamikaze in a dive." The aircraft so
Probable cause
the pilot's loss of aircraft control and entry into a spiral dive for undetermined reasons. The dark night lighting conditions and the pilot's probable low recent flight experience were factors in this accident.
More accidents in CA
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Browse: California · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
