Beech V35TC accident near Roanoke, Virginia, March 3, 1989
On March 3, 1989 at about 9:12 pm local time, a Beech V35TC, registered N27FH, was destroyed in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1989 · about 9:12 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35TC · all V35TCs on the register
- Registration
- N27FH · no longer on the register · serial D-8279
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUMENT RATED PLT INITIATED VFR FLIGHT TO BLACKSBURG AFTER HE WAS INFORMED BY FSS THAT IMC EXISTED AT THE DEST. THE PLT CONTACTED ROANOKE (ROA) APCH CTRL ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF BLACKSBURG AND 8 MILES SW OF ROA. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'STUCK' IN CLOUDS AT 2,000 FT MSL AT THE SAME TIME WITNESSES IN THE AREA REPORTED AN ACFT JUST ABOVE TREETOP LEVEL IN HEAVY FOG AND BELOW AN ESTIMATED 100 TO 200 FT OVERCAST. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO AND BEGAN CLIMBING WEST TO 5,000 FT. AS HE WAS CLIMBING HE ASKED FOR THE CURRENT WEATHER AT BLACKSBURG. ROA ADVISED THE PLT THAT THE WEATHER AT BLACKSBURG WAS NOT AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, THE PLT ASKED AND WAS CLEARED TO PROCEED TO BLACKSBURG ON A 240 DEGREE HEADING. THE ACFT WAS AT 4,600 FT WHEN IT ABRUPTLY MADE A RIGHT TURN AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM A LOW OVERCAST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITH THE ENGINE AT HIGH POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PLT IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,811 hours in all; 1,241 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VA79 Middleburg VA
- Destination: BCB Blacksburg VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:20 pm from ROA, 7 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.