Beech B35 accident near Clare, Michigan, October 26, 1989
On October 26, 1989 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N8805A, was destroyed in an accident near Clare, Michigan (Clare Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY NOT ASSURING THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS PROPERLY POSITIONED, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1989 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Clare, Michigan · Clare Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N8805A · no longer on the register · serial D-2227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE A DECREASE OF ENGINE POWER FOLLOWED BY A DECELERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A NOSE HIGH ALTITUDE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A DEPARTURE FROM CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN AND POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS CENTERED BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND OFF POSITIONS. DURING TESTING, LITTLE AIRFLOW WAS POSSIBLE THROUGH BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT INLETS TO THE OUTLET, THROUGH THE VALVE.
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: 985 hours in all; 435 in this make and model; 919 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 48D Clare MI at 5:55 pm
- Destination: 3DA Flushing MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from HTL, 31 miles away
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.