Beech C35 accident near Brighton, Colorado, June 29, 1988
On June 29, 1988 at about 3:15 am local time, a Beech C35, registered N8930A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brighton, Colorado. 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 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 29, 1988 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N8930A · registry record · serial D-2684
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND WHILE CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENG LOST PWR. THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE INDICATED O PSI. THE PLT SWITCHED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT ACTIVATED THE AUXILIARY (WOBBLE) PUMP AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. THE ENG STILL DID NOT RESPOND. THE PLT MADE A DISTRESS CALL AND EXECUTED A WHEELS-UP LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN AND AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WERE FULL AND THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WAS 3/4-FULL. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR, ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP, ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, OR FUEL LINES. THE WOBBLE PUMP WAS DISASSEMBLED. FUEL WAS EVIDENT ON THE INTAKE SIDE BUT ABSENT ON THE DISCHARGE SIDE. SCRATCHES WERE NOTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PUMP PISTON. THE FUEL SELECTOR DISENGAGEMENT WARNING LIGHT WAS BURNED OUT. WHEN THE BULB WAS REPLACED IT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY.
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: 140 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 1987; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1W1 Bennett CO at 2:15 am
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.