Beech S35 accident near Andrews, North Carolina, October 3, 2021
On October 3, 2021 at about 11:49 pm local time, a 1965 Beech S35, registered N876T, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Andrews, North Carolina (Western Carolina Rgnl 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to fly toward rapidly rising, obscured mountainous terrain after departing under visual flight rules at night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2021 · about 11:49 pm local time
- Place
- Andrews, North Carolina · Western Carolina Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35, built 1965 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N876T · registry record · serial D-7753
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country flight. As he approached a planned stop en route to his destination, he diverted to a nearby airport due to deteriorating weather conditions. A witness at the diversion airport reported that the pilot’s first approach was too fast, and he landed on his second attempt. Also, he flew visual traffic patterns contrary to what was published for the runway and toward rising terrain. Before departing again to resume the flight to the final destination, the pilot obtained a weather briefing by telephone. Based on the preflight weather briefing, the pilot was likely aware of the weather conditions along his route of flight, which included mountain obscuration. The pilot also seemed to be concerned with deteriorating weather conditions approaching the departure airport, which may have rushed him during his departure preparations. The weather at the time of his departure from the diversion airport included visual meteorological conditions; however, the mountainous terrain near the diversion airport was likely obscured with low clouds, rain, and drizzle. He subsequently departed about 4 minutes after the end of civil twilight. He took off and made a slight left turn toward rapidly rising terrain. While climbing, the airplane collided with trees, near the top of a mountain, about 5 miles from the airport. Postaccident examination of the wreckage found the landing gear extended and the cockpit landing gear switch in the “gear down” position, indicating that the pilot may have forgotten to raise the landing gear after takeoff. Leaving the landing gear extended after takeoff would have reduced the airplane’s climb rate. The pilot had recently purchased the accident airplane and his previous airplane was equipped with fixed landing gear. Examination of the remaining wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or anomaly with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Obscuration › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,148 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 9, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 2020; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA(3) (piston); 4,414 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RHP Andrews NC at 11:45 pm
- Destination: LNS Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 08/2, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from RHP, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): 0187 2110032345 SCT014 BKN032 OVC050 7 018 018 00 000 3006 01N RA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA22FA001.