Beech B35 accident near Paw Paw, Michigan, June 1, 1986
On June 1, 1986 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N5152C, was destroyed in an accident near Paw Paw, Michigan (Alemna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 1, 1986 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Paw Paw, Michigan · Alemna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5152C · no longer on the register · serial D-2437
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON TAKEOFF AT APPROX 100' THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FALTER. THE PILOT DID A 180 DEG TURN AND LANDED ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. AFTER BOUNCING TWICE AND SEEING THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY RUN OFF THE END, HE PERFORMED A GO-AROUND. AT A POINT NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, ACCORDING TO HIS PASSENGER, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED INTO TREES. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND ON AN EMPTY TANK AND THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY ON A TEST STAND.
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
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,843 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 1985; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,250 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from AZO, 14 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.