Beech V35 accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 2, 1999
On July 2, 1999 at about 2:59 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N5608S, was destroyed in an accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Baton Rouge Metropolitan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's performance of an abrupt maneuver immediately after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1999 · about 2:59 pm local time
- Place
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana · Baton Rouge Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N5608S · no longer on the register · serial D-8315
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Immediately after liftoff, the 3,950-hour commercial pilot retracted the landing gear. About 150 to 200 feet agl, the airplane made a steep right bank in a 'slight' nose high attitude. The airplane then rolled back to approximately a wings level attitude and began to 'fishtail' in a nose high attitude. The engine sounded to be at 'full power.' Witnesses then observed the airplane bank left, then right, and then back to the left with its nose down. The witnesses reported that the airplane impacted the ground in a near vertical nose down attitude, then burst into flames. No structural or mechanical anomalies were observed during the post accident examination of the airplane.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,950 hours in all; 3,796 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA(10) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BTR at 2:59 pm
- Destination: TVR Tallulah LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22L, 3,799 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from BTR
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.