Beech S35 accident near Davenport, Washington, May 17, 1992
On May 17, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N9015S, was destroyed in an accident near Davenport, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN AND TERRAIN CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N9015S · no longer on the register · serial D-7947
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN. IMPACT SIGNATURES INDICATE THAT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A HILL IN LEVEL FLIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 120 FEET BELOW THE RIDGE LINE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED UP THE HILL, THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AND TRAVELLED ANOTHER 190 FEET THROUGH POWER LINES, WHICH SEPARATED THE LEFT WING AND RUDDERVATOR. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OVER THE CREST, IMPACTING THE GROUND AND SLIDING DOWN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HILL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED ACROSS A VALLEY IMPACTING ANOTHER HILL. THE REMAINDER OF THE FUSELAGE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. DURING THE POST CRASH INVESTIGATION THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,719 hours in all; 263 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 2,554 as pilot in command; 1,205 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: COE Coeur D'Alene ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from GEG, 16 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.