Beech G35 accident near Hillsville, Virginia, September 11, 1992
On September 11, 1992 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4526D, was destroyed in an accident near Hillsville, Virginia. It was a business 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1992 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4526D · no longer on the register · serial D-4698
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS 1 HOUR 24 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 8000 FEET WHEN HE REPORTED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) THAT HE HAD LOST ENGINE POWER. HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES FROM THE CLOSEST AIRPORT AT A FIELD ELEVATION OF 2693 FEET, AND WAS PROVIDED VECTORS TO THAT AIRPORT. HE RADIOED ATC 3 MINUTES LATER ADVISING THEM THAT HE WAS DESCENDING AT A RATE OF 600-700 FEET PER MINUTE AND WAS UNSURE WHETHER HE COULD MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT. ONE MINUTE LATER HE CONTACTED ATC AND ADVISED THAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO LAND ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATION. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT ENGINE POWER DESCENDING TO THE SOUTH IN A STEEP ANGLE. SHE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 3.5 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT WHERE IT CAME TO REST ON A DIRT ROAD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,010 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,288 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1992; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIC Richmond VA at 8:03 pm
- Destination: HLX Hillsville VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from ROA, 1 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.