Beech B35 accident near Brunswick, Georgia, April 5, 1990
On April 5, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N5180C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brunswick, Georgia (Malcom Mckinnon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MANAGE HIS FUEL SUPPLY BY SWITCHING TO A TANK WITH FUEL PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. COLLISION WITH THE TREE(S) WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brunswick, Georgia · Malcom Mckinnon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5180C · no longer on the register · serial D-2462
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE RETURN FLT TO THE AIRPORT, THE PLT ESTABLISHED A DESCENT & THE ENG LOST POWER AT ABOUT 1000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND ESTABLISHED A GLIDE FOR A MARSH AREA, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE. THE PILOT EXITED THE INVERTED AIRCRAFT UNASSISTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE TANK CONTAINED FUEL; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT WING TANK WAS EMPTY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 985 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAV Savannah GA
- Destination: SSI Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,421 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from 551, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.