Beech E55 accident near Payson, Arizona, August 10, 1982
On August 10, 1982 at about 4:33 pm local time, a Beech E55, registered N235J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1982 · about 4:33 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E55 · all E55s on the register
- Registration
- N235J · registry record · serial TE-770
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON THE RUNWAY AFTER THE PILOT COMPLETED A FLIGHT OF ABOUT FOUR HOURS. HE REPORTED THAT BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUEL REMAINING. THE AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL USABLE FUEL SUPPLY OF 136 GALLONS. THE RATE OF FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THIS FLIGHT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 34 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE PILOT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES, BUT PRODUCED NO IDENTIFICATION AND PAID HIS BILL IN CASH. NO FAA PILOT OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED TO ANYONE WITH THE NAME THAT HE PROVIDED. THE ADDRESS THAT HE CLAIMED WAS NONEXISTENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED AS STOLEN, 21 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dallas TX at 5:30 am
- Destination: BNF Warm Springs Ba AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.