Beech K35 accident near Austin, Texas, November 1, 1985
On November 1, 1985 at about 4:43 pm local time, a Beech K35, registered N3091C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas (Birdsnest airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- November 1, 1985 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Birdsnest · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N3091C · registry record · serial D5778
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED & CRASHED DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT. THE PLT/OWNER WAS FLYING THE ACFT FROM THE LEFT SEAT WITH THE MECHAINC, WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE ACFT, SEATED IN THE CO-PLTS SEAT. THE MECHANIC RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN THE ACFT CARTWHEELED AFTER THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE STALL. THE OTHER TWO OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: 511 hours in all; 251 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPY Bagtown TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 6R4 Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,715 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from AUS, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.