Beech C35 accident near Meeker, CO

On January 14, 2016, a Beech C35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Meeker, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

January 14, 2016

Place

Meeker, CO

Aircraft

Beech C35 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

40.052°N, 108.279°W

NTSB ID

20160115X22543

Official records · CEN16FA086

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

Air traffic control records

• ATC Accident Package for N2025D: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Radar Tracks for N2025D: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control - Radar Data: Document (XLSX), on ntsb.gov
• Air Traffic Control - Recording (Shelf Item): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 14, 2016 about 1745 mountain standard time (MST), a Beech C-35 single-engine airplane, N2025D, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Meeker, Colorado. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), Provo, Utah, about 1620, with an intended destination of Granby-Grand County Airport (GNB), Granby, Colorado. Radar data indicated that, after departure, the airplane circled and climbed to an altitude about 12,000 ft mean sea level (msl) in the general area of PVU before turning east toward mountainous terrain. [Note: All radar and/or air traffic control data is reference in ft msl in this report.] The airplane continued to climb as it traveled east, reaching about 14,500 ft about 1641. The airplane maintained between about 14,000 ft and 14,500 ft until about 1653, when it descended to just below 13,000 ft. The pilot contacted air traffic control at 1704, traveling east-southeast, and was issued the current altimeter setting. The airplane continued in the same direction after initial check-in and began a climb again, the airplane had climbed above 18,000 ft by about 1736. At 1736, the controller confirmed the airplane's altitude, advised the pilot he would require an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance to fly above 18,000 ft, and asked the pilot if he wanted to file IFR. The p

Probable cause

The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to fly the airplane in instrument meteorological conditions at high altitude for greater than 30 minutes without the use of supplemental oxygen which resulted in hypoxia, and a subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of multiple impairing medications.

More accidents in CO

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Browse: Colorado · Beech aircraft

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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.