Accident Beechcraft 35-33 Debonair N400DJ,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 163912
 
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Date:Sunday 16 February 2014
Time:11:26
Type:Silhouette image of generic BE33 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Beechcraft 35-33 Debonair
Owner/operator:Arizona Cloudbusters Inc
Registration: N400DJ
MSN: CD-40
Year of manufacture:1960
Total airframe hrs:4509 hours
Engine model:Continental IO-470-N11B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Near Telluride Regional Airport (KTEX), Telluride, CO -   United States of America
Phase: Take off
Nature:Training
Departure airport:Telluride, CO (KTEX)
Destination airport:Cortez, CO
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The airplane departed the airport (which is at an elevation of 9,070 ft mean sea level [msl]) for a day cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane wreckage was found 1/2 mile from the end of the departure runway in steep mountainous terrain 300 ft below a cliff band at an elevation of about 8,760 ft msl, which indicates that the airplane had not obtained a positive climb rate. The airplane impacted terrain in a wings-level attitude and was damaged by impact and a postimpact fire. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

At the high end of the airplane’s estimated weight, it would have just met the airport’s required climb performance to clear the terrain beyond the end of the runway. Other factors that may have been present at the time of the accident, including the weather, mountainous terrain, and snow or ice accumulation before takeoff, could have adversely affected the airplane’s climb performance; however, it could not be determined to what extent these factors played a role. It is likely that the airplane did not establish a positive climb rate after takeoff and, based on the wreckage orientation, that the pilot flew the airplane directly into the terrain. It could not be determined what preflight planning the pilot conducted for the flight, including whether or not she received a weather briefing.

Probable Cause: The airplane’s failure to obtain a positive climb rate, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN14FA141
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N400DJ

FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=400DJ

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
17-Feb-2014 02:56 Geno Added
17-Feb-2014 03:18 Geno Updated [Source]
17-Feb-2014 18:51 Alpine Flight Updated [Aircraft type]
17-Feb-2014 20:30 Geno Updated [Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative]
28-Feb-2014 01:44 Geno Updated [Time, Nature, Source]
21-Dec-2016 19:28 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
29-Nov-2017 13:33 ASN Update Bot Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]

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