Beech P35 accident near Disputanta, Virginia, July 12, 1990
On July 12, 1990 at about 10:39 pm local time, a Beech P35, registered N9726Y, was destroyed in an accident near Disputanta, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INDEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THUNDERSTORMS AND THE PILOT EXCEEDING THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1990 · about 10:39 pm local time
- Place
- Disputanta, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Beech P35 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N9726Y · no longer on the register · serial D7125
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEVIATING AROUND LEVEL 4 THUNDERSTORMS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE WAS FLYING NORTH AT AN ALTITUDE OF 10,000 FEET WHEN HE RADIOED ATC AND ADVISED THAT HE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME MAINTAINING ALTITUDE. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, ATC LOST RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA AND WRECKAGE WAS STREWN OVER A MILE. THE LEFT WING AND RIGHT STABILATOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANCIAL MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 985 hours in all; 945 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
- Operator: T & T Machine Company
The flight
- Departed from: NC95 Mount Holy NC at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 4G7 Fairmont WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
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.