Beech P35 accident near Challis, Idaho, June 25, 1995
On June 25, 1995 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Beech P35, registered N9768Y, was destroyed in an accident near Challis, Idaho (Challis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT. THE TERRAIN CONDITION WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1995 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Challis, Idaho · Challis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P35 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N9768Y · no longer on the register · serial D-7154
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED CHALLIS, IDAHO, SEVERAL DAYS EARLIER WITH 54 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL, AND FLEW APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR ON THE RIGHT TANK TO A REMOTE MOUNTAIN AIRSTRIP. HE THEN RETURNED TO CHALLIS, STATING THAT HE FLEW THE FIRST 45 MINUTES OF THE RETURN FLIGHT ON THE LEFT TANK BEFORE SWITCHING BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING ON FINAL APPROACH, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IMPACTING A DIRT BANK IN HIS GROUND ROLL PATH. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRFRAME FUEL SYSTEM AND 2.75 GALLONS OF UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TEST RUN AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.
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: 354 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 327 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,535 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1994; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N(1) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1U1 Moose Creek Usf ID at 3:30 pm
- Destination: U15
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 2 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Observation at 4:35 pm from U15, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9768Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.