Investigator In Charge (IIC): Cornejo, Tealeye
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California
Location: Angwin, CA
Accident Number: WPR21FA273
Date & Time: July 16, 2021, 08:40 Local
Registration: N112TW
Aircraft: Beech V35
Injuries: 3 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On July 16, 2021, at 0840 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft V35B, N112TW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Angwin, California. The two pilots and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal crosscountry flight.
Radar data identified the airplane departing French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California, about 0550. The pilot had flight following from Air Traffic Control (ATC), until they were about 10 miles from Angwin Airport-Parrett Field (2O3), Angwin, California, whereupon flight following was terminated. The radar track identified the accident airplane as it entered a left downwind for runway 16. The radar track showed a wide left base turn to final which overshot the final approach. The radar track then showed the airplane reacquire runway heading and land.
Witnesses located at 2O3 reported that the accident airplane made an approach to land on runway 16. After touchdown, the airplane bounced several times before the pilot initiated a go-around. The airplane cleared the first tree line at the departure end of the runway. One witness reported that after clearing the first set of trees, the airplane began to pitch up, the left wing dipped down, and then the nose dropped toward the ground. The witness lost site of the airplane but saw smoke shortly after and called 911.
Video footage obtained from 2O3, identified the accident airplane liftoff near the departure end of runway 16. The landing gear remained extended as the airplane flew out of camera view.
Witnesses near the accident site reported hearing the airplane. They looked up right before the airplane struck a tree then impacted the ground coming to rest in a vineyard.
Examination of the accident site (see Figure 1) revealed that the departure end of runway 16 was about a halfmile from the first identified point of contact (FIPC); a 50 ft tree. The airport was not visible from the wreckage site. The FIPC contained a portion of wing skin in the tree and on the ground, a few feet from the FIPC, was the left aileron. The main wreckage came to rest downslope in a vineyard about 500 ft from the FIPC. The left-wing tip tank was identified 150 ft west of the main wreckage.
All four corners of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The airframe came to rest on a westerly heading with the engine separated from the firewall. The 3-bladed propeller along with its spinner and hub separated from the engine crankshaft and was located uphill and adjacent to the engine. Flight control continuity was established from the tail to the cockpit and right wing. The left wing was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire.
The three propeller blades exhibited s-bending, gouging the length of the blades, and chordwise scratching. The tips of the propeller blades exhibited gouging, with one blade missing a portion of its tip.
The crankshaft was manually rotated. Compression was obtained in all cylinders. Gear and valve train continuity was established.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N112TW
Model/Series: V35
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSTS,114 ft msl
Observation Time: 07:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 18 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C /10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 800 ft AGL
Visibility: 7 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Temecula, CA (F70)
Destination: Angwin, CA (2O3)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.565647,-122.43043 (est)
