Beech V35 accident near Byers, Colorado, August 3, 1991
On August 3, 1991 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N2751T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byers, Colorado (Sky Haven airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING SITE. FACTORS WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1991 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Byers, Colorado · Sky Haven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N2751T · no longer on the register · serial D-8467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP DUE TO THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE DENVER AREA. THE 2500 FOOT DIRT AND SAND RUNWAY HAD RECENTLY BEEN COATED WITH OIL. RAIN MADE THE SURFACE SLICK. THE PILOT SAID HE TOUCHED DOWN AND 'HAD TROUBLE WITH BRAKING BECAUSE OF WATER ON RUNWAY.' NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A DRAINAGE DITCH AND COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED 100 FEET AND CAME TO REST ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO INFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFS INDICATING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AT THE INTENDED DESTINATION UNTIL MID AFTERNOON. DENVER WEATHER WAS 600 OVERCAST WITH 6 MILES VISIBILITY IN LIGHT RAIN.
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: 307 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 216 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PEZ Pleasanton TX at 1:30 pm
- Destination: FTG Watkins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°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.