Beech G35 accident near Willows, CA
On April 11, 2002, a Beech G35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Willows, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 11, 2002
- Place
- Willows, CA
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.536°N, 122.319°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020419X00540
Official records · LAX02FA134
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 11, 2002, at 1006 Pacific daylight time, a Beech G35, N4487D, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed following an in-flight breakup and subsequent impact with terrain approximately 7 miles west of Willows, California. The private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Red Bluff, California, at approximately 0950. The accident occurred near the Thunderhill Motorsports Park. At the time of the accident, the park was open and drivers were road-testing their cars on the track. Several safety officials, who were monitoring the track, witnessed the accident. Two witnesses said that the airplane approached the racetrack from the southwest. Witness #1, who was located in the Turn 5 tower, said the airplane approached the track from the west near turn ten (see attached track diagram) at approximately 1,200 feet above the ground. He watched it for a few seconds before his attention was diverted. When he saw the airplane again, it was south of the track, flying over the water tank. He said that it was traveling "faster than usual," and the airplane was in "sharp, 90-degree bank," as it began to circle the park in a level turn. The airplane continued to circle the track, going towards the east then towards the north. After circling around the east side of the track, the airplane returned to a wings-level attitude and began to climb. As soon as it began to climb, the tail started to shak
Probable cause
the pilot's entry into an abrupt maneuver at an excessive airspeed beyond Va, which resulted in exceeding the aircraft's design stress limits.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
- British Aerospace BAE-146-200, Dec 8, 1987
- Beech C-99, Aug 24, 1984
- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
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.
