Beech BE-S35 accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, November 27, 1997
On November 27, 1997 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Beech BE-S35, registered N5667K, was destroyed in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts (Chatham Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact into trees. Related factors were high wind and turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1997 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Massachusetts · Chatham Municipal Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-S35
- Registration
- N5667K · registry record · serial D-7598
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the passengers, the airplane landed on Runway 24. The wind 'affected the airplane,' and the pilot aborted the landing. The initial climb was normal, and the engine produced maximum power. Then, an 'unknown force slam[med] the left wing down,' and the airplane rolled approximately 90 degrees. The airplane descended toward a pond and impacted trees. One of the passengers heard the stall warning horn after the upset, but said she did not feel a stall; it was 'more of a violent down draft forcing the left wing down.' Several witnesses reported observing the airplane at the departure end of Runway 24 in a climb, just above the trees, when it banked 90 degrees left and descended into the trees. The witnesses also reported hearing the engine, and stated that it sounded loud. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 290 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 33 knots, with a peak gust of 42 knots. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
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: 2,400 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,891 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1997; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTN Baltimore MD at 3:00 pm
- Destination: CQX MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 17 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from CQX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.