Beech S35 accident near Telluride, CO
On October 5, 2020, a Beech S35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Telluride, CO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 5, 2020
- Place
- Telluride, CO
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.915°N, 107.753°W
- NTSB ID
- 20201005102094
Official records · CEN21FA007
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 5, 2020, about 1304 mountain daylight time, a Beech S35 airplane, N4444K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), Telluride, Colorado. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed on a planned visual flight rules cross-country flight from runway 27 at TEX. Automated dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane had a normal takeoff and made a subsequent left turn toward the east. The airplane proceeded east into a box canyon and an area of rising terrain. The data showed that, before entering the box canyon, the airplane did not maneuver toward the west, where the terrain was lower than the surrounding terrain. The data also showed that the airplane was in a gradual climb for about 8 miles into the canyon and that the airplane then made a right turn to the south, which was immediately followed by the airplane’s impact with terrain. See figures 1 and 2. No known radio distress calls were received from the pilot after takeoff. Figure 1. ADS-B flight track from TEX to the accident location. Figure 2. ADS-B final portion of flight track. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot was a professional commercial air carrier pilot. The available evidence did not show the amount of high-altitude mountain flying experience that the pilot had accumulated in single-engine airplanes. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONWeight and balance calculations showed that the airplane, includin
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of control during the climb to cruise flight resulting in the airplane’s impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to not climb to a higher altitude before proceeding over high terrain.
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Browse: Colorado · 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.
