Beech S-35 accident near Quartzsite, Arizona, February 1, 2003
On February 1, 2003, a Beech S-35, registered N6106V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quartzsite, Arizona (Desert Gardens Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The driver of the vehicle did not stop prior to crossing the airstrip as directed by airstrip signage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2003
- Place
- Quartzsite, Arizona · Desert Gardens Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S-35 · all S-35s on the register
- Registration
- N6106V · registry record · serial D-7966
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a car crossing the runway. After the airplane touched down on the dirt strip, a car pulled out to cross the runway. The pilot attempted to go around but the left main gear hit the car and sheared off. The airplane skidded down the runway and veered off to the left, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The airstrip was marked with "stop" and "landing area" signs; however, the car did not stop before crossing the airstrip.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,504 hours in all; 1,402 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,504 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 2002; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCRQ Carlsbad CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Quartzsite AZ
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 090, 2,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KBLH, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.