Casualties unknown

1982-02-19: Beech A36 (N4295S) — Terra Dev. Corp. & Sundance AV — St. George, UT

St. George, UT, US

On February 19, 1982, a Beech A36 (registration N4295S) operated by Terra Dev. Corp. & Sundance AV was involved in an aviation accident near St. George, UT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft en route from Las Vegas, Nevada to St. George, Utah, overshot its destination and struck a mountain approximately 15 miles beyond, at an elevation of 7,600 ft MSL. The pilot's family reported a belief that he fell asleep with the autopilot engaged; toxicology tests detected cocaine.

Incident Details

The aircraft was traveling from Las Vegas, Nevada to St. George, Utah when it continued past the destination and collided with a mountainside. The crash site was located about 15 miles beyond St. George at an elevation of approximately 7,600 feet above mean sea level. The location was nearly directly aligned with the departure point and the Mormon Mesa VORTAC, which is situated approximately halfway between Las Vegas and St. George.

Aircraft and Equipment

The aircraft was equipped with an autopilot system. No further details regarding the make, model, or registration of the aircraft were provided in the investigation source.

Investigation Findings

Investigators noted that members of the pilot's family believed the pilot had fallen asleep while flying with the autopilot engaged. A toxicological examination of the pilot revealed the presence of cocaine.

The source did not specify a probable cause for the accident.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X01987. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.