Beechcraft B35 N8805A

Summary

On 26 October 1989 at about 17:55 local time, a Beechcraft B35 registered N8805A was involved in an accident near Clare, Michigan, 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

26 October 1989 at 17:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Clare, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Clare Muni. (48D)

Coordinates

43.8191, -84.7593

Aircraft

Beechcraft B35

Registration

N8805A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clare → Flushing

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI90FA019

1 person died.

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY NOT ASSURING THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS PROPERLY POSITIONED, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE A DECREASE OF ENGINE POWER FOLLOWED BY A DECELERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A NOSE HIGH ALTITUDE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A DEPARTURE FROM CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN AND POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS CENTERED BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND OFF POSITIONS. DURING TESTING, LITTLE AIRFLOW WAS POSSIBLE THROUGH BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT INLETS TO THE OUTLET, THROUGH THE VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.