Beech A35 accident near Hesperia, CA
On June 15, 2018, a Beech A35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Hesperia, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 15, 2018
- Place
- Hesperia, CA
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.373°N, 117.310°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180615X20728
Official records · WPR18FA171
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 15, 2018, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A35 airplane, N580B, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Hesperia, California. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness located on the road at the south end of the airport reported that the takeoff appeared normal. When he saw the airplane again it was traveling in the opposite direction from the departure and at an altitude about powerline level. He then observed a fireball about 10 ft above the airplane before it impacted the ground in a nose low attitude with the wings vertical to the ground. The airplane then cartwheeled before it came to rest. Another witness located in a parking lot south and west of the departure end of the runway reported that the airplane's climb appeared normal, however, something came off the airplane near the end of the runway. The airplane climbed to about 800 ft before the nose dropped and it made a "radical left turn." After the turn, the wings appeared vertical and the airplane lost about 400 ft. The airplane leveled out and appeared to be going back toward the airport, however, the nose remained low. The airplane then turned right and appeared to align with a road before it went out of his sight. An off-airport video captured the airplane's initial climb. The airplane climbed to an undetermined altitude when it made a steep left descending turn. The airplane completed about a 180o turn back in the direction of the airport as it descended in a
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted return to the airport following the separation of the spinner bulkhead during takeoff as a result of fatigue cracking. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to fly an unairworthy airplane.
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.
