Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willows, California 95988
Thursday, April 11, 2002 10:06 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to witnesses, the airplane was seen approaching the motor sports park from the southwest at approximately 1,200 feet agl and at a "faster than usual" rate of speed. The airplane was in a "sharp, 90-degree bank," as it began to circle the park in a level turn. After circling around to the east, the airplane returned to a wings-level attitude and began to climb. Shortly thereafter, the tail of the airplane began to "shake violently" and separate from the airplane. One witness said he heard a loud noise as "the tail came off, and all of it started falling apart." He said the tail section separated first, then the airplane pitched over, and the left wing broke off. Witnesses saw the airplane enter a downward spiral. As the airplane descended, the engine separated and the passenger was ejected. The airplane then entered an inverted flat spin and impacted the ground 1,000 feet north of park. An examination of the airplane's left wing, and stabilizers revealed structural failures consistent with overload. According to the manufacturer's Flight Strength Diagram or Vn diagram for the G35, abrupt control column deflection at a speed of 113 knots (Va, or maneuvering speed) could produce a 4.4 G structural load (Limit Load factor), while abrupt control column deflection at or above 152 knots (Vno/Vc, or maximum structural cruise speed) could produce a 6.6 G structural load (Ultimate Load limit). Examination of the recorded radar data disclosed that the airplane was traveling at 142 knots at the time of the breakup. Engineering analysis concluded that in a level turn, the bank angle required to achieve Limit Load is 76.8 degrees, and the bank angle required to achieve the Ultimate Load is 81.2 degrees. FAA toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of Diphenhydramine in urine, and Norverapamil, and Verapamil in urine and liver.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's entry into an abrupt maneuver at an excessive airspeed beyond Va, which resulted in exceeding the aircraft's design stress limits.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1006
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Willows
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95988
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393208N
Event Location Longitude 1221908W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 948 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 55
Weather Observation Facility ID CIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 238
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 95
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) 438
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15709
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 11 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Sacramento, California FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4487D
NTSB Number LAX02FA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model G35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-4612
Certified Max Gross Weight 2775
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 6119
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lawrence E. Anderson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Red Bluff
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96080
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RBL
Departure City Red Bluff
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WLW
Destination City Willows
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2004 6:21PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --