Beech 35 accident near Wauchula, Florida, August 1, 2022
On August 1, 2022 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1948 Beech 35, registered N119ED, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Wauchula, Florida (Wauchula Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after landing. A contributing factor was a degraded left main landing gear wheel assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2022 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wauchula, Florida · Wauchula Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35, built 1948 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N119ED · registry record · serial D-1497
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had purchased the airplane as a “barn find” and reported that it had not been flown or serviced in 12 years. The accident flight was the first flight following completion of an annual inspection. While en route, the airplane sustained a total loss of electrical power, and the pilot diverted to a nearby airport. The pilot was able to lower the landing gear using the emergency landing gear extension system, and he prepared for a faster than normal landing because he was unable to lower the electrically actuated wing flaps. After touchdown, the airplane veered left, and the pilot was unable to correct. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a utility box, which collapsed the landing gear, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that the left main wheel rotated, but it was “hard to spin.” There was no evidence of any other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 6,204 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 6,275 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,944 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 2,851 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X51 Homestead FL at 12:35 pm
- Destination: SPG St Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from SEF, 29 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSEF 011455Z AUTO 13007KT 10SM SCT021 SCT029 31/25 A3020 RMK AO2 T03090251
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 6, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.