Accident Overview
On December 23, 2025, at approximately 0841 Pacific standard time, a Beech K35, registration N9540R, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Summer Lake, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight History
According to preliminary ADS-B flight track data, the airplane departed Susanville Municipal Airport (SVE) in Susanville, California, around 0730 and flew northwest. At about 0752, the pilot requested visual flight rules (VFR) flight following to McNary Field (SLE) in Salem, Oregon, with Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). Around 0759, while at an altitude of about 10,600 feet mean sea level (msl), the airplane turned west-northwest. The pilot reported to the controller that the turn was due to clouds. The controller then relayed a weather report and a pilot report (PIREP) indicating light rime icing near the pilot's location.
The aircraft continued on a west-northwest heading for about 9 minutes, climbing to approximately 12,170 ft msl, before initiating a left 250° turn to the northeast. The controller subsequently relayed another PIREP for light rime icing in the area.
ADS-B data showed the airplane then flew on a northeasterly heading, with altitudes varying between 11,370 ft msl and 12,500 ft msl for about 19 minutes. Around 0827, the airplane turned left to the northwest and climbed to about 12,800 ft msl. Approximately three minutes later, it turned right to the north-northeast and climbed to about 13,100 ft msl.
Engine Power Loss and Descent
At 0833, the airplane entered a descending right turn, and the pilot reported to the ARTCC controller that the engine had lost power. The controller advised the pilot of the closest airport, located about 13 miles northwest of their position. The pilot then reported being in clouds and that ice was accumulating on the airplane. ADS-B data indicated the airplane continued in a descending right turn until the end of the flight track data. The last recorded ADS-B target was at 0841, at an altitude of 6,000 ft msl, approximately 2,300 ft north of the accident site.
Search and Wreckage
An Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued at 0857, and a ground search was initiated using signals from the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) and iPhone crash detection. The wreckage was located that afternoon by local law enforcement about 13 miles southwest of Summer Lake, Oregon, at an elevation of 5,682 ft msl.
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted wooded terrain near the Fremont National Forest. The debris path was approximately 135 feet in length, oriented on a magnetic heading of about 245°. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a treetop about 100 feet tall, struck at about 80 feet above ground level (AGL), located 130 feet from the main wreckage. The right wingtip was found about 37 feet from the FIPC, the left stabilizer and elevator about 75 feet from the FIPC, and the left wing was suspended in a tree about 20 feet above the ground roughly 110 feet from the FIPC. The main wreckage came to rest inverted on a magnetic heading of about 238°. All major structural components of the airplane were found within the debris path.
The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.