Beech C35 accident near Reedville, Virginia, November 10, 2002
On November 10, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N707D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reedville, Virginia (Federhart-Ophelia Stolport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, and his failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reedville, Virginia · Federhart-Ophelia Stolport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N707D · registry record · serial D2979
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to take off from a grass strip, which was "soft" on the day of the accident due to several days of rain. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wheel hit a "soft spot" on the runway, causing the airplane to rotate approximately 30 degrees to the left. The pilot applied right rudder but did not observe any response from the airplane. He then reduced the throttle and applied the brakes. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and impacted a pole with its right wing. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,890 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,890 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,982.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2002; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Eseries185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VA99 Reedville VA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: VA99
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from NHK, 24 miles away
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.