Beechcraft V-35B | N2UZ

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot encountered an engine failure in day VMC conditions, and passed up numerous open fields in an attempt to proceed towards the airport, KCHO. The pilot was in contact with the control tower at KCHO and did declare an emergency, and noted that he did not think that he would make it to the airport. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 3 and reported the airport in sight, but crashed approximately 2.7 sm southeast of the runway. It is not clear yet whether the aircraft was fully stalled prior to impact or possibly landed under control in a wooded area. The aircraft caught fire upon impact.

The DTSB recommends that all pilot of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves for any abnormal in flight, to include the loss of engine power, and be fully prepared to choose a full flaps, gear up landing in any open area while that option is still available. The DTSB highly recommends that pilots DO NOT pass up any suitable field in hopes of making it to the runway.