History of Flight
On May 23, 2008, about 1020 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35B, registration N1886L, impacted trees and flat terrain near Fall River Mills, California. The private pilot operated the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and three passengers were killed; no ground injuries occurred. The airplane was destroyed in the subsequent fire.
The cross-country flight departed Little River Airport (LLR), Little River, California, about 0820, with an intermediate stop at Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS), Santa Rosa, to pick up additional family members. The flight departed STS about 0900, en route to Fall River Mills Airport (O89). No flight plan had been filed.
Witnesses reported that the airplane flew low over the Fall River Golf Course, then banked right for landing with landing gear and flaps extended. As the airplane banked, it suddenly "dropped out of the air."
Personnel Information
The 61-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He received a third-class medical certificate on January 26, 2007, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses. At that examination, he reported 3,150 total flight hours, with 60 in the previous 6 months. Aircraft logbook entries indicated about 205 hours flown from January 1, 2006, to May 8, 2008.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 1976 Beech V35B, serial number D-9895. A May 8, 2008, entry noted an annual inspection; total airframe time was 3,979.7 hours, tachometer 538.2. A Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-BB engine (serial 285909-R) had been installed in February 1995 as a zero-time factory remanufactured unit. A 100-hour inspection was performed on May 8, 2008, at 1,224.1 hours since overhaul. A fuel receipt from LLR showed 37.43 gallons purchased on May 22.
The airplane was equipped with a single throw-over yoke, positioned on the left side. According to the pilot's daughter, he flew from the left seat and did not let others fly.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident site was about 1 mile south-southwest of the airport, in a small copse of trees. The first identified point of contact was a 75-foot tree; its top was broken off. A piece of the right wing tip was found on a 50-foot tree about 50 feet south. A third tree, east of the first two, had a broken and splintered top. The airplane came to rest on a 045-degree magnetic heading northeast of the third tree, with the empennage at its base.
All flight control components were present; cables remained attached. The landing gear was down, and flaps were in an intermediate position. The engine was manually rotated, establishing continuity; both magnetos produced spark. Upper spark plugs showed normal operation and wear. The propeller assembly separated; two blades remained attached, showing S-bending and chordwise scratching; the third blade had S-bending and a 45-degree shear lip at the separation point.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Shasta County Coroner conducted an autopsy on May 27, 2008. The manner of death was listed as accidental due to massive blunt force injuries. FAA toxicology testing found no volatiles or tested drugs; carbon monoxide and cyanide tests were not performed.
Meteorological Information
Local sheriff's deputies reported overcast conditions with light intermittent rain at the time of the accident. The nearest weather station, Alturas Airport (AAT), 48 miles northeast, reported at 1005: wind variable at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, light rain, overcast ceiling at 1,700 feet, temperature 4°C, dew point 2°C, altimeter 29.48 inHg. At 1055, the report showed wind 340° at 3 knots, overcast at 1,500 feet.
Fall River Mills Airport has an elevation of 3,323 feet and uses common traffic advisory frequency 122.8.