Beech K35 accident near Arden, North Carolina, March 9, 1987
On March 9, 1987 at about 4:58 am local time, a Beech K35, registered N621M, was destroyed in an accident near Arden, North Carolina (Asheville Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1987 · about 4:58 am local time
- Place
- Arden, North Carolina · Asheville Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N621M · registry record · serial D5852
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT DEPARTED CHARLESTON, SC FOR RALEIGH EARLIER IN THE DAY. WHILE AT RALEIGH HE DISCUSSED PENDING LEGISLATION WITH ASSOC. HE DEPARTED RALEIGH ABOUT 2228 EST IN WX OF INDEF 100 AND 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY. HIS DESTINATION WAS FORECAST TO HAVE OCCASIONAL CEILINGS OF 200 OVERCAST AND 1/4 MILE VISIBIITY IN FOG. APPROACHING ASHEVILLE HE ASKED FOR A PIREP ON ASHEVILLE. ATLANTA CENTER GAVE THE LATEST WEATHER AS 500 SCATTERED, MEASURED 1100 OVERCAST, VISIBILITY ONE MILE IN LIGHTDRIZZLE AND FOG. THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS TO RUNWAY 34. THE EXISTING WEATHER WAS 400 OVERCAST, 2 MILES VISIBILITY.THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT A MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT ON A HEADING OF 014. PILOT DID NOT ACTIVATE APPROACH LIGHTS FOR RUNWAY 34.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,369 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 1,202 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1986; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh NC at 3:28 am
- Destination: AVL Asheville NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 am from AVL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.