The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Oregon
Location: Salem, Oregon
Accident Number: WPR22FA087
Date and Time: January 29, 2022, 15:03 Local
Registration: N9530R
Aircraft: Beech K35
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On January 29, 2022, about 1503 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft K35 Bonanza, N9530R, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in, Salem, OR. The private pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to preliminary air traffic control (ATC) data, the airplane departed McNary Field Airport (SLE), Salem, Oregon, for a day visual flight rules (VFR) departure. The pilot requested to stay in the traffic pattern, and the tower controller informed the pilot to remain in left closed traffic and cleared the pilot for takeoff from runway 34. The pilot took off, remained in the traffic pattern, and was cleared to land runway 34. Witnesses stated that during the approach to land, the airplane crossed the runway threshold and continued to descend. Before touching down on the runway, the airplane suddenly veered to the left and simultaneously entered a near vertical climb. The airplane rolled to the left, and subsequently entered a near vertical descent. The airplane impacted the ground, in a near vertical pitch attitude.
The airplane wreckage was located in the grass infield adjacent to runway 34. The airplane’s left wing impacted the ground about 17 ft west of the asphalt runway. Shards of the airplane’s red position light lens cap were found in the grass and marked the initial point of impact. The main wreckage came to rest about 32 ft west of the runway.
The engine compartment and the instrument panel remained attached to the airplane by the lower fuselage skin just aft of the firewall, and by avionics wires and flight control cables. The left side of the empennage revealed impact compression signatures emanating from top to bottom, just aft of the rear window. Both wings sustained substantial damage from wingtip to wing root.
The airplane has been recovered to a wreckage facility for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N9530R
Model/Series: K35
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: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSLE,201 ft msl
Observation Time: 14:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C /1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 50°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Salem, OR
Destination: Salem, OR
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 44.904994,-122.99854 (est)
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.
