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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

December 25, 1983 · Beech P35 · N8675M

Near Dove Creek, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 25, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Near Dove Creek, CO
Aircraft
Beech P35
Tail Number
N8675M
Operator
George Chamberlin
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN84FA049

The aircraft collided with mountainous terrain about 30 miles northwest of Cortez, CO. The pilot was on an IFR flight plan and had been advised before flight of hazardous icing conditions enroute. When the aircraft iced up, the pilot reversed course and, even though descending below MEA, he managed to stay clear of the terrain until he turned southeast toward Cortez over higher terrain. He was out of direct radio contact with Denver Center because of his altitude. Denver was able to relay through an airliner until all contact was lost at 0927 MST. A search was initiated and by ELT help the aircraft was located 3 hours after radar contact was lost. The pilot's handbook for the Beech 35 stated: 'WARNING, FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS PROHIBITED.' Examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft impacted tall pine trees in a wings level 10-15 degree nose low attitude. The aircraft came to final rest in a densely forested snow-covered area between 2 large pine trees. Shoulder harnesses were not installed in the aircraft.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF CORTEZ CO. THE PLT WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND HAD BEEN ADVISED BEFORE FLT OF HAZARDOUS ICING CONDITIONS ENROUTE. WHEN THE ACFT ICED UP THE PLT REVERSED COURSE AND EVEN THOUGH DESCENDING BELOW MEA HE MANAGED TO STAY CLEAR OF THE TERRAIN UNTIL HE TURNED SOUTHEAST TOWARD CORTEZ OVER HIGHER TERRAIN. HE WAS OUT OF DIRECT RADIO CONTACT WITH DENVER CENTER BECAUSE OF HIS ALTITUDE. DENVER WAS ABLE TO RELAY THROUGH AN AIRLINER UNTIL ALL CONTACT WAS LOST AT 0927 MST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED AND BY ELT HELP THE ACFT WASLOCATED 3 HOURS AFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PLTS HANDBOOK FOR THE BEECH 35 STATED: 'WARNING, FLT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS PROHIBITED'. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED TALL PINE TREES IN A WINGS LEVEL 10-15 DEG NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO FINAL REST IN A DENSELY FORESTED SNOW COVERED AREA BETWEEN 2 LARGE PINE TREES. SHOULDER HARNESSES WERE NOT INSTALLED IN THE ACFT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech P35
Tail NumberN8675M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGeorge Chamberlin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-N · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 8000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point36 C / 36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data