Accident Details
On September 4, 2020, at approximately 1148 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft 35 airplane, registration N818S, was destroyed in an accident near Three Rivers, California. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert notice after family members reported the airplane missing. Radar data showed a primary target consistent with the accident airplane departing Visalia Municipal Airport, Visalia, California, about 1125 and flying east on a visual flight rules non-discreet transponder code. The airplane flew toward rising terrain south of Silver City, California, with the last recorded radar target at about 1148.
Wreckage Discovery and Examination
The wreckage was discovered on September 5, 2020, in mountainous terrain at an elevation of approximately 9,500 feet mean sea level, on top of a small plateau with large pine trees and boulders. The airplane was destroyed, and portions of the wreckage were consumed by post-impact fire. The debris was dispersed along a path about 160 feet long.
The wreckage was recovered and examined at a secure location. It was highly fragmented and thermally damaged. The cabin from the cockpit seats to the firewall was mostly consumed by fire. Side and upper cabin skins from the baggage compartment forward were also consumed. The wings were fractured into multiple segments, with the majority of the right wing consumed by fire; portions of the wing spar remained. The wing tip fuel tanks sustained thermal damage. The stabilizers and elevators were impact-separated from the tail. The left stabilizer had an 18-inch circular tree impact impression perpendicular to its chord line. The right stabilizer was unremarkable, and both had slight thermal damage to the paint. Flight control cable continuity could not be established due to fragmentation and extensive thermal damage in the cockpit area.
Engine and Propeller Examination
The engine and all observed components exhibited fire damage, corrosion, and some impact damage. All three propeller blades were attached to the hub, which remained attached to the engine. Each blade showed leading edge gouging and S-type bending. Both turbocharger units were partially impact-separated from the engine and had impact and heat damage. Attempts to verify engine continuity, valve train continuity, and cylinder compression by rotating the engine were unsuccessful. Visual confirmation of engine continuity was made using a borescope. No anomalies were noted with the engine or examined components.
Weather Information
The National Weather Service produced a spot forecast for the approximate accident area on the day of the accident. The forecast indicated sunny skies with areas of smoke and haze from the SQF Complex Fire. Stable air conditions kept smoke in the valleys, and the Kern River Valley experienced unhealthy to hazardous air quality.