Beechcraft S35 N8985M

Summary

On 30 March 2014 at about 00:17 local time, a Beechcraft S35 registered N8985M, operated by Tharp James R, was involved in an accident near Marathon, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 March 2014 at 00:17

Classification

Accident

Location

Marathon, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

The Florida Keys Marathon Arpt (MTH)

Coordinates

24.7567, -81.0133

Aircraft

Beechcraft S35

Registration

N8985M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Tharp James R

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Umatilla → Marathon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA14CA175

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's distraction in the cockpit while on a visual approach over water during a dark night resulting in the airplane descending until impact with the water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded IFR towards the destination airport (The Florida Keys Marathon Airport), Marathon, Florida. He cancelled his IFR clearance, and performed the pre-landing checklist. While on the base leg over water during the dark night, he became distracted by the failure of the landing light. With the landing gear and flaps extended for landing but the power set to 15 inches of manifold pressure, he did not recognize the airplane was descending. When the airplane impacted the water he thought they were at 1,000 feet. He also stated that he attempted to activate the runway lights using the common traffic advisory frequency but stated he could not see them. In hindsight he stated that he must have been too low at that time to see the runway lights. According to the County of Monroe Assistant Director of Airports, the runway lights at The Florida Keys Marathon Airport come on automatically at night and remain on "step 1." Being a 14 CFR Part 139 airport, a complete night inspection is performed each Friday and Monday, and each working day in the morning a continuous inspection is performed on the runway lighting circuit. As noted in the Daily Self Inspection Reports, the airfield runway lights were functioning properly during the course of the weekend and there were no issues with the runway lighting system. The runway end identifier lights for runway 7 were out of service at that time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.