Beech C35 accident near Rockville, Maryland, February 19, 1994
On February 19, 1994 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N5962C, was destroyed in an accident near Rockville, Maryland. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1994 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rockville, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N5962C · no longer on the register · serial D-3323
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED DRAINING THE MAIN FUEL SUMP. HE STATED THAT HE DOES NOT RECALL DRAINING THE INDIVIDUAL FUEL DRAINS OF THE MAIN FUEL TANKS. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED THE FIRST LEG OF THE TRIP SUCCESSFULLY; HOWEVER, EN ROUTE TO THE NEXT STOP AT 2000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE USING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. HE STATED THAT HE LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND, BUT FOUND NONE, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN TREES. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SOME TREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE FRONT YARD OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL SELECTOR AND CARBURETOR FILTER SCREEN. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AND IT OPERATED SATISFACTORY.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,268 hours in all; 1,268 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,176 as pilot in command; 991 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1993; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 2:05 pm
- Destination: HEF Manassas VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from IAD, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.