Beechcraft S35 accident near Walla Walla, Washington, May 15, 1982
On May 15, 1982 at about 4:56 am local time, a Beechcraft S35, registered N175Q, was destroyed in an accident near Walla Walla, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1982 · about 4:56 am local time
- Place
- Walla Walla, Washington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N175Q · no longer on the register · serial D-7441
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE ON A DARK NIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN A HEAVILY WOODED, SNOW COVERED AREA. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE CRASHED WHILE IN OR NEAR LEVEL FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 4500 FT MSL. THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN WAS ABOUT 5200 FT. THERE WERE BROKEN AND OVERCAST SKY CONDITIONS WELL ABOVE THE ALTITUDE OF THE CRASH SITE. THERE WAS NO MOON ON THAT NIGHT AND THE CLOUDS WOULD HAVE BLOCKED OUT ALL REFERENCE TO THE SKY. ALSO, THERE WERE NO KNOWN GROUND REFERENCE LIGHTS IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,400 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Hermiston OR at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 144°F (62°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from PDT, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.