Beech K35 accident near Laredo, Texas, August 3, 1991
On August 3, 1991 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Beech K35, registered N8111R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laredo, Texas (Laredo International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE OIL FILTER ADAPTOR 'O' RING (SEAL) BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO DISTORTED IT. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1991 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Laredo, Texas · Laredo International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N8111R · no longer on the register · serial D5940
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED AN UNSUAL SMELL WHICH HE THOUGHT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL OR SMOKE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DECREASED. THE POWERPLANT THEN STARTED TO VIBRATE AND THE PILOT SHUT IT OFF. THE PILOT WAS COMMUNICATING WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AND WAS ATTEMPTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN AIRPORT WHEN THE FORCED LANDING OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO LAND ON. THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT AN 'O' RING IN THE OIL FILTER ADAPTOR ASSEMBLY WAS CRUSHED AND THE ENGINE OIL ESCAPED AT THAT DAMAGED AREA CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER. NO OIL REMAINED IN THE ENGINE. THE ADAPTOR ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN WORKED ON THE DAY BEFORE THE FLIGHT BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
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: 698 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 619 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,114 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1991; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRL Harlingen TX at 1:50 pm
- Destination: 6R6 Dryden TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 5,926 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.