Beechcraft P35 Bonanza, N8625M: Fatal accident occurred October 31, 2021 in Harrison, Sioux County, Nebraska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Lincoln, Nebraska

Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas 

Auto & Bike Shop Inc

https://registry.faa.gov/N8625M

Location: Harrison, Nebraska

Accident Number: CEN22FA023

Date and Time: October 31, 2021, 13:34 Local

Registration: N8625M

Aircraft: Beech P35 

Injuries: 2 Fatal

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On October 31, 2021, about 1334 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Beech P35 Bonanza airplane, N8625M, was substantially damaged with it was involved in an accident near Harrison, Nebraska. The pilot, passenger, and a dog were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The airplane departed Marion, Ohio (MNN), about 0800 EDT and stopped for fuel at Marshalltown, IA (MIW). The airplane departed about 1104 central daylight time (CDT) and was en route to Douglas, WY (DGW), with a cruise altitude from 4,400 ft to 5,300 ft msl.

A witness reported that while flying his airplane 15 miles south of Valentine, Nebraska, about

1315 to 1330 CDT, he observed a white V-tail Bonanza with red stripes. He stated that the airplane was headed west and passed above him about 5,000 ft msl. He was aware of two active AIRMETs for icing conditions to the west and southwest of his location, and he tried to radio the Bonanza pilot to warn him of the icing conditions, but he did not receive a response. At 6,500 ft msl, the outside air temperature was 28° F where he had previously encountered trace to light icing before he had descended to 4,500 ft msl where the temperature was 38° F.

A witness, who was located southeast of Crawford, Nebraska, and 10 miles south of the accident airplane’s flight path, stated that he heard a low flying airplane between 1330 and 1400 MDT. The weather conditions included an overcast cloud layer about 200 ft above ground level (agl), one mile of visibility, and “heavy freezing drizzle with ice particles.”

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that at 13:33.18 MDT the airplane was at 5,275 ft msl and descended toward rising terrain. From 13:33.30 to 13:33.37 the airplane was about the same altitude as the terrain, then began a climb to 5,500 ft msl (320 ft agl). The final data point was recorded at 13:33.52 at 5,400 ft msl (250 ft agl) and 150 knots groundspeed. Figure 1 shows the end of the accident flight path. 

The accident site was defined by an initial impact crater and a debris field about 700 ft long.  Figure 2 shows the final locations of the airplane, engine, and propeller within the debris field.

The initial impact elevation was 5,160 ft msl and the airplane came to rest at 5,140 ft msl.

The pilot had filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan for the first leg from MNN to MIW and was in contact with air traffic control (ATC). There was not a flight plan filed for the second leg from MIW to DGW. After departure from MIW there was no indication that the pilot was in contact with ATC and the airplane’s transponder code was set to 1200, a standard code for visual flight rules (VFR).

Preliminary meteorological information showed that near the accident site, the freezing level was at the surface, there was a broken cloud ceiling about 600 ft agl, with an overcast ceiling at 800 ft and cloud tops near 11,000 ft msl. There was potential for light-to-moderate clear icing below 5,500 ft msl, and light rime ice from 5,700 through 10,000 ft msl. The National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center (NWS AWC) issued AIRMETs Sierra for IFR and mountain obscuration conditions immediately south and west of the accident site, and an AIRMET Zulu for icing conditions over the accident site. The AWC surface forecast expected an area of snow showers and mixed precipitation over western Nebraska with a Graphical-AIRMET for mountain obscuration over western Nebraska, Wyoming, and northeast Colorado. The cloud forecast expected overcast clouds with bases at 5,000 ft msl with tops to 16,000 ft. A Graphical-AIRMET for icing conditions was also depicted over the region.The airplane has been retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech

Registration: N8625M

Model/Series: P35

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built:

Operator: On file

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Unknown

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KGUR,4936 ft msl 

Observation Time: 13:23 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 61 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 1°C /0°C

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 60°

Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 800 ft AGL 

Visibility: 8 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR

Departure Point: Marshalltown, IA (KMIW)

Destination: Douglas, WY (KDGW)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 Fatal

Latitude, Longitude: 42.791395,-104.00842 

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Donald Melvin and Lucinda Mae (Huson) Sutphin

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Donald Melvin and Lucinda Mae (Huson) Sutphin, married for fifty-three years, died together with their dog Gus on Sunday, October 31, 2021, in a plane crash near Harrison, Nebraska. Life-long residents of Wyoming, Don and Cindy are remembered as beloved school teachers and as owners of The Auto & Bike Shop in Douglas, Wyoming, where they raised their daughters and continued to reside. They are highly esteemed in the community by friends, students, neighbors, and business patrons. The Sutphins were snowbirds and enjoyed their winter home and many friends in Maricopa, Arizona for the last thirteen years. 

Don was born in Casper, Wyoming, on Tuesday, September 28, 1948 the son of Melvin Leon and Henrietta Helen (Stuka) Sutphin. He was in the first graduating class of Kelly Walsh High School. He was a star basketball player, went on to play in college, and eventually coach. He taught biology and chemistry for more than 40 years in Douglas. His students and players remember his humor and enthusiasm. Don may be best known for all of his hobbies, including restoring classic cars, building and riding motorcycles, and his obsession of sports. He was also an accomplished pilot and was a certified ground school and flight instructor. He served on the Converse County Airport Board and the Casper College Alumni Board.

Cindy was born in Newcastle, Wyoming, on Wednesday, October 5, 1949, the daughter of Harry M. and Vera L. (Dabney) Huson, and was the middle of three girls. She enjoyed cheerleading in high school and she taught at a rural elementary school near Douglas prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, which was her favorite job in the world. She worked in the choir department in the high school for a time after their daughters left home, and she kept the books and helped manage the auto shop. Cindy’s very favorite place was a family cabin in the Bighorn Mountains. She loved shopping and reading, and embraced all of Don’s many hobbies.

Don and Cindy were high school sweethearts and both graduated from the University of Wyoming. They were married in Casper on October 19, 1968. They loved their children and grandchildren more than anything, and many of their activities and hobbies revolved around their family life. Over the years, they travelled around the state and beyond for golf and cross-country events, volleyball and basketball tournaments, track meets, and to take their daughters hiking, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, and boating. Don and Cindy shared a love for riding motorcycles and they rode thousands of miles together and with friends, including many trips to Sturgis. Together they enjoyed travelling, caring for their Shih Tzu dogs, movies and concerts, and attending car shows. Don and Cindy loved visiting their grandchildren in Ohio, escaping to the family cabin in the Bighorns, drinking coffee by the palm trees, and cooking and serving food at the Wyoming State Fair.

Don and Cindy are survived by their daughter, Mandy (Wes) Roberts of Morral, Ohio, and their dearly loved grandchildren Jack, Lola and Katie Roberts. They are also survived by Cindy’s father, Harry Huson, and her sisters, Marsha (Jim) Milek and Karen Kastner. 

Don and Cindy were preceded in death by their children Donnie, Jimmy, and Angie Sutphin; granddaughter, Amelia Roberts; and parents, Vera Huson and Melvin and Henrietta Sutphin.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 405 North Sixth Street, Douglas, Wyoming at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Todd Weber officiating.

Donations can be made to the Don & Cindy Sutphin Memorial account at Converse County Bank, P.O. Box 689, Douglas, Wyoming, 82633 or to the charity of your choice.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the two people killed in the crash Sunday afternoon of a single-engine airplane near Harrison were a couple from Douglas, Wyoming.

Don and Cindy Sutphin, retired teachers, were returning home from visiting family in Ohio when their Beechcraft P35 Bonanza went down about 5 miles north of Harrison around 2:00 PM Sunday.  

NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss says a preliminary crash report will probably be out within 2 weeks of the accident and may offer insights into the cause, but a formal finding won’t be made until the final report is released – which normally takes 12 to 24 months.

Don and Cindy Sutphin taught at Douglas High School for many years and also owned a business in Douglas, the Auto and Bike Show. 

Don Sutphin was an accomplished pilot and former member of the Converse County Airport Board. Friends said he purchased the Beechcraft P35 Bonanza recently and had made one long flight before the trip to Ohio.