Beech S35 accident near Chester, CA
On January 7, 2011, a Beech S35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chester, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 7, 2011
- Place
- Chester, CA
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.280°N, 121.229°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110106X30933
Official records · WPR11FA090
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 6, 2011, about 1845 Pacific standard time (PST), a Beech S35, N5866S, impacted the frozen shoreline of a lake adjacent to Rogers Field Airport (O05), Chester, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certificated private pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the entire fuselage forward of the tailcone. The cross-country personal flight departed Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, California, about 1745. Visual night meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. At the time of the accident a witness, who was a neighbor of the pilot, was positioned in the kitchen of his residence, which was located about 4,500 feet northeast of the departure end of runway 34 at Chester Airport. The location approximated the beginning of the right downwind leg for that runway. The house was surrounded by 70-foot-tall pine trees, with kitchen doors that opened to a north-facing deck. The witness reported that his radio scanner was on, and he heard a faint radio call from the pilot over the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), reporting that he was inbound for landing. A few minutes later he heard the pilot clearly report that he was overflying the airport, with the intention of entering the right base for runway 34. The pilot then transmitted, "Thanks Vic for turning the lights on!" The witness explained that the pilot knew he was listening on scanner, and usually makes th
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control while maneuvering to land, most likely due to spatial disorientation.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
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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.
