2017 Beech A36TC Accident at Ogden-Hinckley Airport (N60WB)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence On July 26, 2017, at approximately 1240 mountain daylight time, a Beech A36TC airplane, registration N60WB, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD) in Ogden, Utah. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The aircraft, registered to Peak 2 Peak, LLC, was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight destined for Yellowstone Airport (WYS) in West Yellowstone, Montana. No flight plan was filed for the journey. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. According to the tower controller at OGD, the pilot requested a northwest departure from runway 17. The controller instructed the pilot to enter the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern after departure due to a potential conflict with an inbound helicopter. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff and departed runway 17. Approximately one-quarter mile from the departure end of the runway, the controller cleared the pilot to turn right to the northwest. Less than one minute later, the pilot communicated, “Hey, I'm going down, zero-whiskey-bravo.” The controller cleared the pilot to land and observed the aircraft descend and impact terrain about one-half mile from the departure end of runway 17. Another pilot in the area reported seeing the airplane impact the highway. Two mechanics at OGD heard the aircraft take off and noted an unusual sound. They observed the airplane at approximately 100 feet above the ground at a point 3,700 feet down runway 17, where it should have been at least 500 feet higher. They reported that the engine sounded underpowered and the tail was moving up and down as if the pilot was struggling to keep the airplane airborne. Dashcam video from a vehicle on a southwest-bound street captured the accident airplane in flight. The aircraft was first seen flying in a wings-level attitude from the right side of the video frame. As it approached the center of the frame, it entered a right turn and flew away, paralleling the street. Shortly thereafter, the airplane entered a steep, right, descending turn until it was out of view.