Beech S35 accident near Lindon, Michigan, August 2, 1989
On August 2, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N7972K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lindon, Michigan (Linden Price airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE RUDDERVATOR CONTROL DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lindon, Michigan · Linden Price · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N7972K · registry record · serial D-7471
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WHILE ABORTING A TAKEOFF ROLL. AIRSPEED AT THE TIME OF THE ABORT WAS GREATER THAN 80 KNOTS AND THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE IN THE RUNWAY REMAINING. THE PILOT STATED DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT HE FELT A RESISTANCE IN THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WHICH INCREASED AS THE AIRSPEED BECAME GREATER. HE DESCRIBED IT AS SOFT RESISTANCE RATHER THEN A MECHANICAL LOCK. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE BEFORE IT WAS MOVED. NO MECHANICAL REASON COULD BE FOUND TO EXPLAIN THE PILOTS REPORTED DIFFICULTY WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: 993 hours in all; 138 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 955 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,073 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Flint MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,509 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.