Beech C35 accident near Rollinsville, Colorado, August 4, 2010
On August 4, 2010 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N8974A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rollinsville, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2010 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Rollinsville, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N8974A · no longer on the register · serial D-2728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Forest service personnel discovered the wreckage of the airplane on the side of a narrow, wooded valley after reports of fire in the area. Ground scars and damage to adjacent trees were consistent with the airplane having struck trees before impacting the ground. One propeller blade was located 250 feet from the main wreckage. Damage to the propeller blade and blade hub was consistent with separation due to the impact with trees and indicative of little to no rotation at impact. Examination of the remaining airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies. No reason for a possible loss of engine power or the impact with terrain could be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during unknown
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,906 hours in all
- Last flight review: September 2, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor E225 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BDU Boulder CO at 12:00 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from EIK, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.