Beech P35 accident near Lovell, Wyoming, August 6, 1989
On August 6, 1989, a Beech P35, registered N9661Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lovell, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CONTINUE OUT OF THE CANYON OR TURN AROUND. THE TERRAIN AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1989
- Place
- Lovell, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P35 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N9661Y · no longer on the register · serial D7079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FLYING TWO RELATIVES AND A FRIEND ON A FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE SAID HE FLEW UP A CANYON. AS HE APCHD THE UPPER END, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE PLANE COULD NOT CLIMB FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN & THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN AROUND. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A STAND OF TREES. AS THE PLANE DESCENDED THROUGH THE TREES, THE WINGS, TAIL, AND ENGINE WERE SEVERED, BUT THE CABIN SECTION REMAINED INTACT. THE ELT ACTIVATED & SEARCH PERSONNEL RESCUED THE SURVIVORS THE NEXT MORNING. ELEVATION OF THE ACDNT SITE WAS ABOUT 7900 FT; DENSITY ALT WAS ESTD TO BE ABOUT 10,000 FT.
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
- Flight time: 1,621 hours in all; 1,171 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,481 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 11:57 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.