Beech F35 accident near Jackson, Tennessee, September 10, 1993
On September 10, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech F35, registered N3886B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper use of old auto fuel for the refueling of the aircraft. Factors in the accident were the deterioration of the octane in the auto fuel being used in the aircraft and the delayed decision by the pilot to choose a suitable area and execute a forced landing prior to loss of all altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F35 · all F35s on the register
- Registration
- N3886B · no longer on the register · serial D-4316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MANASSAS, VA., ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN TO MEMPHIS, TN. APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES SOUTH OF MANASSAS, THE PILOT REPORTED (UNSPECIFIED) MECHANICAL TROUBLE, AND LANDED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. THE PILOT PURCHASED 11 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL IN CHARLOTTESVILLE. THE FLIGHT THEN DEPARTED WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN ON FILE. THE AIRCRAFT LATER LANDED IN MCMINNVILLE, TN. THE PILOT THEN PURCHASED 30.8 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MCMINNVILLE WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT CONTACTED JACKSON, TN. AFSS AND REPORTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH 'SOME TIME BACK' AFTER A PREVIOUS STOP. HE STATED, JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THAT HE HAD PASSED OVER NUMEROUS OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITES, BUT THAT NOW HE HAD FEW OPTIONS REMAINING. FOUR FIVE GALLON PLASTIC CONTAINERS, WITH THE ODOR OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL, WERE FOUND ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. A PLASTIC FUEL CAP FROM ONE OF THE CONTAINERS WAS FOUND INSIDE THE RIGHT FUEL CELL. THE FUEL DRAINED FROM THE AIRCRAFT SMELLED AND LOOKED LIKE OLD AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 788 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 678 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,405 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1992; 205 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNC Mcminnville TN at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MEM Memphis TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from MKL, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.