Probable cause
The pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while operating in conditions of reduced visibility due to smoke.
NTSB analysis
The pilot and passenger departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight into an area of reduced visibility due to wildfire smoke. An alert notice was issued when the airplane did not arrive at the destination, and the wreckage was located the following day in mountainous terrain at an elevation about 9,500 ft mean sea level. No anomalies were noted with the airplane during post-accident examination. Impact signatures and wreckage dispersion were consistent with the pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while operating in conditions of reduced visibility due to smoke.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR20LA295 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 4, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Three Rivers, California
- Highest injury
- Fatal
- Fatal injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech 35
- N-number
- N818S
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1970
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.