Beech V35B accident near Novato, CA

On August 19, 2014, a Beech V35B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Novato, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

August 19, 2014

Place

Novato, CA

Aircraft

Beech V35B · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

38.174°N, 122.705°W

NTSB ID

20140819X12142

Official records · WPR14FA349

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Excerpt from FAR-AIM Pilot Controller Glossary: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Excerpt from FAA Order 7110.65 Air Traffic Control: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

On August 18, 2014, at about 2130 Pacific daylight time, a Beech B35, N1160T, collided with terrain while maneuvering near Novato, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual and instrument meteorological and dark night conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight. The cross-country flight originated from Brookings Airport (BOK), Brookings, Oregon at 1920 with a destination of San Carlos Airport (SQL), San Carlos, California.According to air traffic control (ATC) communications, the pilot was in contact with a SeattleRoute Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) controller and was transferred to an Oakland ARTCC controller during the southbound flight. Soon after being transferred, the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The controller initially gave the pilot vectors to Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, California about 27 miles to the north of (behind) the pilot's position, and followed up by issuing vectors to Gnoss Field (DVO) Novato, about 19 miles to the east of the airplane's position. After that discussion, during which the airplane had turned west, north, and then later east, the pilot reported that the engine power had returned. That statement was about 5 minutes after the pilot's initial notification to ATC of an engine problem. The pilot continued eastbound, and shortly ther

Probable cause

The instrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct a visual approach to the airport in night, instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's loss of situational awareness, the controller's failure to provide clear and concise instructions to the pilot following his declaration of an emergency, and the controller's

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.