Beechcraft 35 N3331V

Summary

On 26 December 1993 at about 18:30 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N3331V was involved in an accident near Crystal Beach, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 December 1993 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Crystal Beach, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Crystal Beach (XS77)

Coordinates

29.4804, -94.5704

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N3331V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94LA056

Nobody was injured.

WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE A PASSENGER DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENING IN FLIGHT DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PASSENGER DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENED DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB. THE PILOT INITIATED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND REMAINED IN THE AIRPORT PATTERN FOR A LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING THE FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN WET TERRAIN AND DURING THE GROUND ROLL HIT A FENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT REPORTED A TEMPERATURE DEWPOINT SPREAD OF 3 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.