Beech 35 accident near Glenrock, Wyoming, June 24, 1989
On June 24, 1989 at about 8:35 am local time, a Beech 35, registered N1887D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glenrock, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PROPER ALTITUDE NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. THE WEATHER/NIGHT CONDITIONS AND PILOT FATIGUE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1989 · about 8:35 am local time
- Place
- Glenrock, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N1887D · no longer on the register · serial D-3159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPD JULESBURG, CO, BTN 1830 & 1900 MDT. HIS ORIGINAL DESTN WAS CASPER, WY, BUT DUE TO WX, HE FLEW TO BILLINGS, MT & LNDD AT ABT 2200 MDT. AT ABT 2347, HE TOOK OFF WITH ONE PAX ON A FLT TO BROOMFIELD, CO. BFR TAKEOFF, HE WAS ADZD THAT CLOUD BASES WERE AT 9000' MSL; HE REPLIED THEY WOULD NOT BE FLYING THAT HI. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PAX NOTED THEY WEREAT 7300'; THE PLT EXPLAINED THAT WOULD BE ABT 2800' TO 3000' AGL. LATER, THE PAX NOTED THEY WERE AT 7500'; THE PLT SAID THAT WOULD BE ABT 2400' AGL IN THAT AREA. AT ABT 0200 MDT, THE PAX BCM SLEEPY & DOZED; WHEN SHE AWOKE, SHE BELIEVED THE PLT HAD DOZED ALSO. SHE NUDGED HIM & HE STRAIGHTENED UP, SLAPPED HIS FACE & SAID HE WAS FINE. LATER, THE PAX DOZED AGAIN& AWOKE WHEN THE ACFT IMPACTED THE TOP OF RISING TERRAIN (ELEVATION APRX 7000'). SOME 4 TO 5 HRS LTR, WHEN BOTH REGAINEDCONSCIOUSNESS, THE PAX ASKED THE PLT IF HE FELL ASLEEP. HIS RESPONSE INDCD TO HER THAT HE HAD. THE PLT DIED AT ABT 0900.WX DELAYED A SEARCH. THE ACFT WAS FND IN LATE AFTERNOON AFTER THE ELT SIGNAL WAS RCVD BY SATELLITES & OVERFLYING ACFT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,039 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 762 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,382 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1988; 166 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 5:47 am
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; scat at 400 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 am from CPR, 29 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.
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.