Beech V35B accident near Roche Harbor, Washington, July 7, 1991
On July 7, 1991 at about 6:40 am local time, a Beech V35B, registered N6036E, was destroyed in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington (Roche Harbor airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO PLAN HIS TAKEOFF PATH TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. THE RISING TERRAIN AND DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1991 · about 6:40 am local time
- Place
- Roche Harbor, Washington · Roche Harbor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6036E · no longer on the register · serial D10272
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NIGHT TAKEOFF WAS TOWARD RISING TERRAIN AND TREES. THE AIRPLANE FIRST STRUCK A TREE APRX 200 FT NORTH OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE AND APRX 150 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. IT THEN STRUCK A RESIDENCE AND A PICKUP TRUCK. A PILOT WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL. LOCAL PILOTS REPORT THAT TAKEOFF IS NORMALLY TO THE WEST OVER THE HARBOR.
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: 1,033 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: Palo Alto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.