Beechcraft A35 N27EB

Summary

On 12 July 1988 at about 21:12 local time, a Beechcraft A35 registered N27EB was involved in an accident near Lompoc, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 July 1988 at 21:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Lompoc, California, United States

Nearest airport

Lompoc (LPC)

Coordinates

34.5990, -120.3902

Aircraft

Beechcraft A35

Registration

N27EB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lompoc → Hemit

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX88FA252

1 person died.

PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT, HIS IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT PLANNED A SHORT X-C FLIGHT. AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL DURING INITIAL CLIMB, HE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PLT TRANSMITTED A DISTRESS MESSAGE OVER UNICOM, STALLED, ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & CRASHED 1/2 MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE PILOT HAD 88 HRS OF FLT EXPERIENCE IN THIS ACFT. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED HE HAD BEEN USING AUTO FUEL IN AT LEAST ONE TANK & AVIATION FUEL IN ANOTHER TANK. FUEL WAS WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IN THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE CARBURETOR. ON 6-29-88, A MECHANIC WHO HAD INSPECTED THE ACFT, WROTE IT UP AS 'DISAPPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE'. HE HAD FOUND OIL LEAKS AND CYLINDER HEADS THAT APPEARED CRACKED. NO EVIDENCE OF MAINTENANCE WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT LOGS BETWEEN 6/29 & 7/12.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.