Beech G35 accident near Willows, California, April 11, 2002
On April 11, 2002 at about 5:06 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4487D, was destroyed in an accident near Willows, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's entry into an abrupt maneuver at an excessive airspeed beyond Va, which resulted in exceeding the aircraft's design stress limits.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2002 · about 5:06 pm local time
- Place
- Willows, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4487D · no longer on the register · serial D-4612
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses, the airplane was seen approaching the motor sports park from the southwest at approximately 1,200 feet agl and at a "faster than usual" rate of speed. The airplane was in a "sharp, 90-degree bank," as it began to circle the park in a level turn. After circling around to the east, the airplane returned to a wings-level attitude and began to climb. Shortly thereafter, the tail of the airplane began to "shake violently" and separate from the airplane. One witness said he heard a loud noise as "the tail came off, and all of it started falling apart." He said the tail section separated first, then the airplane pitched over, and the left wing broke off. Witnesses saw the airplane enter a downward spiral. As the airplane descended, the engine separated and the passenger was ejected. The airplane then entered an inverted flat spin and impacted the ground 1,000 feet north of park. An examination of the airplane's left wing, and stabilizers revealed structural failures consistent with overload. According to the manufacturer's Flight Strength Diagram or Vn diagram for the G35, abrupt control column deflection at a speed of 113 knots (Va, or maneuvering speed) could produce a 4.4 G structural load (Limit Load factor), while abrupt control column deflection at or above 152 knots (Vno/Vc, or maximum structural cruise speed) could produce a 6.6 G structural load (Ultimate Load limit). Examination of the recorded radar data disclosed that the airplane was traveling at 142 knots at the time of the breakup. Engineering analysis concluded that in a level turn, the bank angle required to achieve Limit Load is 76.8 degrees, and the bank angle required to achieve the Ultimate Load is 81.2 degrees. FAA toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of Diphenhydramine in urine, and Norverapamil, and Verapamil in urine and liver.
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: 1,617 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,119 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 2001; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 4:50 pm
- Destination: WLW Willows CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 95 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from CIC, 26 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.
Other NTSB records under N4487D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.