Beech V35B accident near Chesson, Alabama, May 22, 1983
On May 22, 1983 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N313ZM, was destroyed in an accident near Chesson, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1983 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chesson, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N313ZM · no longer on the register · serial D-10135
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE ACFT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT AT 4000 FT MSL, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST SOON AFTER A TURN WAS INITIATED. WRECKAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER A DISTANCE OF 2193 FT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE STABILIZERS/RUDDERVATORS, TAIL CONE, RIGHT WING & BOTH TIP TANKS HAD SEPARATED IN FLT. EVIDENCE OF DOWNWARD BENDING WAS FOUND ON BOTH RUDDERVATORS. EVIDENCE OF BOTH UPWARD BENDING & DOWNWARD BENDING WAS FOUND IN THE WINGS. THE INBOARD & OUTBOARD SECTIONS OF THE RIGHT WING HAD SEPARATED AS WELL AS ITS AILERON. THE ACFT GROSS WT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR ITS MAX LIMIT & THE CG WAS APRX 5.1 INCHES BEHIND ITS AFT LIMIT. THE CONTROL YOKE WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. THE PLT OF AN AIR FORCE ACFT REPORTED AN OVERCAST SKY CONDITION IN THAT AREA AT 1500 FT. A TEARDOWN OF THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR REVEALED SCRAPE MARKS ON THE GYRO & INSIDE THE CASE NEXT TO THE GYRO. THE AUTOPILOT SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 668 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 611 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1982; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49J Hilton Head SC
- Destination: MGM Montgomery AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 pm from MGM, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.