Beech D17R accident near Sandwich, Illinois, August 3, 1994
On August 3, 1994 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech D17R, registered N35E, was destroyed in an accident near Sandwich, Illinois (Woodlake Landing 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 failure of the pilot to lower the landing gear. Factors related to the accident were the loss of engine rpm, for undetermined reasons, and the diverted attention of the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1994 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sandwich, Illinois · Woodlake Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D17R · all D17Rs on the register
- Registration
- N35E · registry record · serial D-17R-167
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT REPORTED HE NOTICED A DROP IN RPM WHEN HE REDUCED POWER TO THE CRUISE SETTING. HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT HE HAD JUST DEPARTED AND MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS DISTRACTED AND BECAME CONCERNED WITH THE ENGINE RPM, AND FAILED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE SLID DOWN THE RUNWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,570 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 10,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,090 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 31, 1994; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-975-11 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C48 at 4:25 pm
- Destination: MWK Mount Airy NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,988 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from ARR, 12 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.