Beech N35 accident near West Jordan, Utah, July 24, 2005
On July 24, 2005 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Beech N35, registered N31TE, was destroyed in an accident near West Jordan, Utah (Salt Lake City Muni 2 airport). 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
the pilot's improper preflight planning, his attempted flight into adverse weather conditions, and the stall resulting in the loss of control and subsequent crash. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, the airplane exceeding its gross weight limitations, and the dry microburst from thunderstorms located near the airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2005 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- West Jordan, Utah · Salt Lake City Muni 2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech N35 · all N35s on the register
- Registration
- N31TE · registry record · serial D-6745
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to takeoff, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from the flight service station. Witnesses, who were located on the airport, reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane was 150 feet agl and flying runway heading. The right wing was low, landing gear extended, and the nose in a climb attitude, but the airplane was not climbing. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, the airplane lost altitude and "was still mushing along." The right wing then rolled to an almost vertical attitude, the nose dropped, the airplane rolled to the left and impacted terrain. One witness stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and the engine sounded normal. The airplane was destroyed by postimpact fire. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was 126.2 lbs over gross weight at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported gusty wind conditions, thunderstorms in the area, and no precipitation. Weather data revealed environmental conditions that supported dry microburst activity at the time of the accident.
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: 5,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-BB(2) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: U42 West Jordan UT at 10:20 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,860 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:39 pm from SLC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.