Beech J-35 accident near Ontario, California, November 25, 1983
On November 25, 1983 at about 4:18 pm local time, a Beech J-35, registered N8337D, was destroyed in an accident near Ontario, California (Ontario airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- November 25, 1983 · about 4:18 pm local time
- Place
- Ontario, California · Ontario · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J-35 · all J-35s on the register
- Registration
- N8337D · no longer on the register · serial D-5429
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT FORCED LANDED IN A VINEYARD WHERE THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE FLT STATED THAT CLIMBING THROUGH 5000 FT MSL THE POWER WENT TO IDLE AND THEN TO ZERO. ALL FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE & THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF AND NEVER CHANGED. WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE MAIN TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION SHOWED NO ENGINE POWER WAS BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT.
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
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 234 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,329 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1983; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 8:03 am
- Destination: PO6 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 10,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:27 pm from ONT, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.