Beechcraft A35 N8480A

Summary

On 30 May 1995 at about 01:04 local time, a Beechcraft A35 registered N8480A was involved in an accident near Downers Grove, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 1995 at 01:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Downers Grove, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Brookeridge Air Park (C24)

Coordinates

41.7604, -88.0094

Aircraft

Beechcraft A35

Registration

N8480A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI95FA161

2 people were seriously injured.

fuel contamination (water), and the pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight. A factor was trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

At another airport, days prior to the accident, the airplane was fueled and parked outside. After the airplane was returned to its home base, it was parked in a hangar. On the day of the accident when the airplane was pre-flighted fuel sumps were drained and no water or contaminants were found. It was then flown on a local flight for less than one hour. The airplane was then re-fueled, after which the fuel sumps were not drained. On the next flight the airplane suffered a total loss of engine power during initial climb. The pilot was unable to restore power and conducted a forced landing. The airplane slid off the end of the runway (landing gear retracted), impacted trees and caught on fire. Subsequent examination failed to reveal any pre-existing mechanical anomalies in the engine or airframe. Fuel samples examined from most recent fueling pump failed to find water or other contaminants.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.