Beech A35 accident near Jacksonville, Illinois, June 4, 1995
On June 4, 1995 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Beech A35, registered N8640A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Illinois. 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
improper maintenance and inspection of the airplane's ruddervators.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1995 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N8640A · no longer on the register · serial D2050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS EN ROUTE ALTITUDE WAS 4,500 FT MSL, AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED NO TURBULENCE. HE BEGAN A 150-155 MPH DESCENT BY REDUCING POWER TO 20 INCHES AND APPLYING LIGHT FORWARD PRESSURE TO THE YOKE. HE FELT A VIOLENT SHUDDER AND RELEASED THE PRESSURE ON THE YOKE, WHICH STOPPED THE SHUDDER. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED BUCKLED AND WRINKLED SKIN, POPPED RIVETS, AND BULKHEAD CRACKS. THE RUDDERVATORS HAD IMPROPER HARDWARE INSTALLED, A LOOSE BEARING, AND IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ELEVATOR TRIM TABS. THE RUDDERVATORS WERE TESTED FOR BALANCE. THE RIGHT RUDDERVATOR HAD A BALANCE OF 19.26 INCH-POUNDS AND THE LEFT RUDDERVATOR HAD A BALANCE OF 20.05 INCH-POUNDS. THE RIGHT RUDDERVATOR WAS WITHIN THE BALANCE LIMITS OF 16.8 TO 19.8 INCH-POUNDS, AND THE LEFT RUDDERVATOR WAS OUT OF BALANCE.
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: 520 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 473 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,469 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDH Carbondale IL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: IJX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from SPI, 40 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.