Beech P35 accident near Willits, California, January 26, 2005
On January 26, 2005, a Beech P35, registered N222V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willits, California (Ukiah Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an instrument landing approach, resulting in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were turbulence, and the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2005
- Place
- Willits, California · Ukiah Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P35 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N222V · registry record · serial D-6909
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After encountering severe turbulence during an IFR localizer approach, the pilot was not able to maintain control of the airplane, and impacted trees and mountainous terrain. He was diverting from another airport due to weather and turbulence. The pilot said that he was established on the localizer approach at 4,000 feet msl, when he felt a jolt and heard a loud noise. The jolt he attributed to severe turbulence. He looked into the cabin area to see what had fallen, and when he looked back at the instruments, the airplane was in an unusual attitude, descending at a steep bank angle and a high airspeed. He leveled the wings, reduced the power, and raised the nose of the airplane to stop the descent. The pilot reported that he was attempting to reestablish the flight on the localizer when he saw trees directly in front of him. He raised the nose and impacted the trees. There was a deep low-pressure system with an occluded front off the Pacific coast with an extensive area of clouds and precipitation. Conditions at the destination airport and alternate airport where the pilot diverted to after a missed approach attempt were IFR to MVFR. The alternate airport also reported an overcast ceiling of 2,800 feet agl, with light and continuous rain. Prior to the accident there was a turbulence report of light chop; however, no forecasts for turbulence had been issued. Shortly after the accident an AIRMET was issued, which advised for occasional moderate turbulence below 12,000 feet over the accident area.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,452 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,223 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2004; 10.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA at 7:50 pm
- Destination: 1O2 Lakeport CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:14 pm from UKI, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.