History of Flight
On October 10, 2015, about 1735 Pacific daylight time, a Beech G35, registration N4485D, was destroyed when it struck terrain during the initial climb after departing Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) in South Lake Tahoe, California. The private pilot, who owned the aircraft, and a passenger received fatal injuries. The flight was a personal cross-country operation under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. Departure was at approximately 1733.
Witnesses at the airport observed the airplane oscillating in altitude at about 30 feet above the runway during takeoff from runway 18. Some reported that the engine sounded as if it was not producing adequate power. One witness noted that near the runway midpoint, the airplane appeared to encounter turbulence; the left wing dipped but the pilot regained control. After exiting the airport boundary on the runway heading, the airplane made a right turn followed by a left turn to an east-northeast heading. It climbed to about 100 feet above ground level in an excessively high pitch attitude and flew toward rising terrain. Shortly after crossing a ridgeline east of the airport, the airplane entered a nose- and left-wing-low attitude and impacted the backyard of a residence.
Personnel Information
The 73-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and multi-engine land ratings. A third-class medical certificate was issued on March 10, 2015, with no limitations. At his last medical exam, he reported 1,600 total flight hours and 25 hours in the previous six months. However, his logbook showed 1,580.43 total hours as of October 7, 2015.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, single-engine, low-wing, retractable landing gear airplane (serial number D-4641) was manufactured in 1956. It was powered by a Continental Motors E-225-8 engine (serial number 31362-D-6-8) rated at 225 horsepower, equipped with a McCauley two-bladed adjustable-pitch propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on March 21, 2015, at a total aircraft time of 5,935.46 hours, with engine time since major overhaul of 211.46 hours.
Meteorological Information
A National Transportation Safety Board meteorologist prepared a factual report. Surface analysis at 1700 indicated a trough near the accident site promoting wind direction changes over mountainous terrain. Constant pressure charts showed west-to-southwest winds of 20–30 knots at 700 hPa, increasing to 50 knots at 300 hPa from the west-northwest.
The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at TVL reported at 1653: wind from 210° at 13 knots gusting to 21 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear below 12,000 feet, temperature 23°C, dew point 0°C, altimeter 30.21 inHg. At 1753: wind from 210° at 9 knots gusting to 18 knots, similar visibility and sky condition, temperature 21°C. One-minute data near the accident time showed wind from about 209–219° at 9–13 knots with gusts to 13–20 knots.
Non-official stations near the site reported gusty winds. Station EW3758 (1 mile west-northwest, elevation 6,300 feet) reported north winds at 7 mph gusting to 15 mph at 1730. Station RWBC1 (1 mile west-southwest, 6,336 feet) reported winds from 228° to 213° at 5–8 mph with gusts to 17–19 mph. Station CF047 (3 miles south-southwest, 7,390 feet) reported wind from 205° at 1.9 mph gusting to 18.6 mph at 1731, with large direction changes likely due to terrain and mountain wave activity.
The upper air sounding from Reno, Nevada (43 miles north-northeast) at 1700 indicated a dry environment from the surface to 15,000 feet. Surface wind was from 235° at 18 knots, increasing to 25 knots through 6,000 feet mean sea level. An area forecast issued at 1245 predicted gusty southwest winds 20 knots gusting to 30 knots until 2000. The terminal aerodrome forecast issued at 1635 predicted wind from 190° at 11 knots gusting to 20 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, and few clouds at 22,000 feet. No record was found that the pilot obtained a weather briefing before departure.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident site was in a residential backyard about 1 mile south of TVL. The wreckage path extended 140 feet on a magnetic heading of 080°. Initial impact was with a pine tree at about 100 feet above ground level, exhibiting a 45° cut consistent with a propeller blade strike. The left wing and aft fuselage/empennage separated. The main wreckage (cabin, inboard right wing, both main landing gear, baggage compartment, forward fuselage) rested on a 220° heading, and was charred, melted, and consumed by fire.
Flight control continuity was established from cockpit to all primary surfaces, with multiple cable separations consistent with impact. The engine and propeller hub with one attached blade were found inverted near the main wreckage; the attached blade was curled 360°. The opposing blade was located 54 feet at 011° from the main wreckage, exhibiting tip twisting/curling and chordwise scratches. Mechanical continuity was established throughout the engine; thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. Spark plugs showed normal operation signatures with corrosion and post-impact fire effects. Both magnetos produced spark on all leads in proper firing order. The fuel injection servo was separated; the fuel inlet screen was obstructed with thermal damage contaminants. No evidence of preexisting mechanical malfunction was found.
Medical and Pathological
An autopsy performed on October 12, 2015, determined the cause of death as extensive blunt force thoracic trauma. Toxicology tests by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute were negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol in blood. No amphetamines, opiates, marijuana, cocaine, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, antidepressants, or antihistamines were detected.