Beech B35 accident near Pearland, Texas, April 3, 2021
On April 3, 2021 at about 12:30 pm local time, a 1950 Beech B35, registered N5240C, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pearland, Texas (Skyway Manor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power due to a crack in the No. 1 cylinder for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2021 · about 12:30 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Pearland, Texas · Skyway Manor · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35, built 1950 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5240C · registry record · serial D-2631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff he noted a difference in the sound of the engine and that the engine speed started to decrease. The airplane was unable to climb above obstacles along the flight path, and the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing. During the forced landing the right wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest in a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident engine examination revealed a crack between the No. 1cylinder head and bore. The engine likely lost power due to this crack; however, the origin of the crack was not identified.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Malfunction other cases naming the engine
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,593 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,395 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 5, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,158.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 2020; 33.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T79 Pearland TX at 12:35 pm
- Destination: SKF San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 2,525 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from LVJ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Left side of airplane
Photo 2 – Right side of accident airplane
Photo 3 – Separated right wingThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airframe Maintenance Records Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Maintenance Records Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Propeller Maintenance Records Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5240C on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft B35 147 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental Motors E-185-11 1 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Skyway Manor Airport · nearest airport
- Kelly Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,985 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN21LA176.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.