Beech V35B accident near Advance, North Carolina, February 2, 1991
On February 2, 1991 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N74LE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Advance, North Carolina (Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE MALFUNCTIONING MAGNETO WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE SPUTTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1991 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Advance, North Carolina · Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N74LE · registry record · serial D-9679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF THERE WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE WAS DISTRACTED WHILE TURNING ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP. DURING THAT DISTRACTION THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT & COLLIDED WITH A BERM ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE SURGED & WAS DEVELOPING FULL POWER WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED ONE MAGNETO CONDENSER HAD MALFUNCTIONED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INCONSISTENT SPARK & SPUTTERING OF THE ENGINE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,816 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1990; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 35A Union SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 6, 2,600 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from GSO, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.