Beech V35-B accident near Skagway, AK
On August 9, 2003, a Beech V35-B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Skagway, AK. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 9, 2003
- Place
- Skagway, AK
- Aircraft
- Beech V35-B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 59.467°N, 135.311°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030814X01332
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 8, 2003, about 1645 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Beech V35-B airplane, N4317S, was destroyed when it collided with tree-covered terrain following a loss of control during the initial climb after takeoff, about .5 mile north-northwest of the Skagway Airport, Skagway, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The intended destination was Yakutat, Alaska. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel reported that the pilot purchased fuel in Juneau, Alaska, on August 8. The airplane then departed from Juneau, for a flight to Skagway. A witness reported that the airplane arrived in the Skagway area about 1330. The airplane entered what appeared to the witness to be a landing pattern for runway 20. At that time, the witness described the wind as 20 to 30 knots, and favoring runway 02. The witness said he called the airplane on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to alert the pilot of the wind. The pilot broke off the landing pattern for runway 20, and completed a landing on runway 02. At 1557, the pilot contacted the Juneau Automated Fight Service Station (AFSS) facility, Juneau, Alaska, and received a weather briefing for a flight from Skagway to Yakutat. Witnesses reported that the airplane departed about
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and subsequent inadvertent stall, which resulted in a collision with trees during takeoff-initial climb. Factors contributing to the accident were terrain features consisting of a ravine and rising terrain on either side of the departure runway.
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Browse: Alaska · 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.
