Beech A35 accident near Hudson, Colorado, November 21, 1995
On November 21, 1995, a Beech A35, registered N8759A, was destroyed in an accident near Hudson, Colorado. 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE. A FACTOR WAS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1995
- Place
- Hudson, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N8759A · no longer on the register · serial D2181
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON RETURN FROM A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT HIS HOME BASED AIRPORT AT NIGHT. THE AIRPORT DOES NOT HAVE LIGHTS AND LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE A DARK NIGHT WITH NO MOON. ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT THE PILOT COULD NOT LOCATE THE RUNWAY WHICH WAS MARKED AT THE THRESHOLD WITH REFLECTORS. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT THE PILOT DESCENDED TO A LOWER ALTITUDE FOR BETTER GROUND REFERENCE AND COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY ONE AND ONE HALF MILES FROM THE AIRPORT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,945 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MRY Monterey CA at 5:55 pm
- Destination: 18V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DEN, 20 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.