Beech V35B accident near Leadville, Colorado, January 17, 1986
On January 17, 1986 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N6735T, was destroyed in an accident near Leadville, Colorado (Leadville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- January 17, 1986 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Leadville, Colorado · Leadville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6735T · no longer on the register · serial D-10374
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED PUEBLO, COLORADO ON A VFR FLT TOWARD AN APPROACHING FRONTAL WX SYSTEM. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 18,200 FT MSL, WITH ERRATIC MANEUVERING IN THE VICINITY OF ACCIDENT SITE. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT 13,200 FT MSL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PLT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE UNPRESSURIZED ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN.
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
- Flight time: 153 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1985; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 7:56 pm
- Destination: EGE Eagle CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from ASE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6735T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.