Beech 35 accident near Crystal Beach, Texas, December 26, 1993
On December 26, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3331V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crystal Beach, Texas (Crystal Beach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE A PASSENGER DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENING IN FLIGHT DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal Beach, Texas · Crystal Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3331V · no longer on the register · serial D-792
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENED DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB. THE PILOT INITIATED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND REMAINED IN THE AIRPORT PATTERN FOR A LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING THE FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN WET TERRAIN AND DURING THE GROUND ROLL HIT A FENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT REPORTED A TEMPERATURE DEWPOINT SPREAD OF 3 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,274 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,918 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.