Beech C35 accident near Dillsboro, Indiana, May 1, 1982
On May 1, 1982 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N8940A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillsboro, Indiana. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1982 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Dillsboro, Indiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N8940A · registry record · serial D2694
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT OPERATED NORMALLY DURING TAXI, RUN-UP, TAKEOFF, AND CLIMB TO 3500 FT MSL. ABOUT 17 MILES FROM THE DEPARTUREAIRPORT, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A DIRT FIELD, ONE OF THE MAIN GEAR FAILED. THE PROPELLERSEPARATED AND THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DEFECTS. HOWEVER, A QUANTITY OF SAWDUST-TYPE MATERIAL, SUFFICIENT TO INDUCE FUEL BLOCKAGE, WAS FOUND IN THE AUXILIARY LINE. ORIGIN OF THE SUBSTANCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE PILOT STATED THAT FROM TAKEOFF TO ENGINE STOPPAGE, THE FUEL SELECTOR HAD BEEN POSITIONED TO THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD PRIOR TO BEING SOLD TO THE PRESENT OWNER/OPERATOR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,037 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 862 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,666 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Covington KY at 12:35 pm
- Destination: Louisville KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.