Beech S35 accident near Andrews, NC
On October 3, 2021, a Beech S35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Andrews, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 3, 2021
- Place
- Andrews, NC
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.248°N, 83.788°W
- NTSB ID
- 20211004104031
Official records · ERA22FA001
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 3, 2021, about 1949 eastern daylight time, a Beech S35, N876T, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Andrews, North Carolina. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was performing the first leg of a cross-country flight to Pennsylvania that originated at Liberty Municipal Airport (T78), Liberty, Texas, about 1134 central daylight time with an intended destination of Macon County Airport (1A5), Franklin, North Carolina. Due to weather conditions, the pilot diverted to Western Carolina Regional Airport (RHP) in Andrews. A witness on the ramp, who was also a pilot, reported that the accident pilot entered the left downwind of the airport traffic pattern for runway 8 from the east and flew north of the runway; however, the published traffic pattern for runway 8 was right traffic (due to rising terrain north of the runway). The witness further reported that the pilot’s first approach was too fast, and he performed a go-around. The pilot continued to fly a left traffic pattern and landed on his second attempt. While on the ground at RHP, the pilot purchased 60 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel, received a weather briefing through Leidos Flight Service, and filed an instrument flight rules flight plan to Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The airplane was equipped with a handheld GPS receiver that was found inside the wreckage. The recovered data revealed that the airplane departed runway 8 at 1945
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to fly toward rapidly rising, obscured mountainous terrain after departing under visual flight rules at night.
More accidents in NC
- Douglas DC-9-31, Jul 2, 1994
- Beech 1900D, Jan 8, 2003
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47E, Feb 13, 2022
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 2025
- Beech D55, Jan 9, 1983
Browse: North Carolina · 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.
