Event WPR26FA019

Factual narrative

On October 15, 2025, about 1447 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35, C-FETM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Austin, Nevada. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed West Kootenay Regional Airport (YCG), Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, about 0903, flew southwest, and arrived at Grant County International Airport (MWH), Moses Lake, Washington, about 1003. The airplane departed MWH about 1149, flew south/southeast and climbed to an altitude of 9,300 ft mean sea level (msl). About 1345, the airplane initiated a climb to 12,000 ft msl, then flew between 11,100 ft msl and 12,400 ft msl for the remainder of the flight track data. About 1414, the airplane turned to the southwest. About 1419, the airplane began a turn toward the southeast and remained on a southeasterly heading until the end of the flight track data. The data ended about 7 miles northwest of the accident site and showed the airplane at an altitude of 11,100 ft msl. On October 16, 2025, at 1331, an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued, following reports from family members, that the airplane was overdue. The wreckage was subsequently located later that day by a private citizen who volunteered to search by air, about 16 miles northeast of Austin, Nevada, at an elevation of 10,195 ft msl. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain near the top of Mt. Callaghan, on the western slope of the mountain near the peak. The debris field was about 992 ft in length and was oriented on a magnetic heading of 147° from the first identified point of contact (FIPC) to the main wreckage, and a magnetic heading of 172° from the main wreckage to the end of the debris field. The main wreckage was located about 574 ft from the FIPC and came to rest inverted on a magnetic heading of about 270°, on the eastern slope of the mountain. All major structural components of the airplane were observed throughout the debris field. (See figure 1.) Figure 1. Debris field at accident site. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12