Beech S35 accident near Elgin, Arizona, October 7, 1983
On October 7, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N6851Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elgin, Arizona (Brophy Ranch airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- October 7, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elgin, Arizona · Brophy Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N6851Q · no longer on the register · serial D-7500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A DIRT, RANCH STRIP, THE PLT ELECTED TO USE TRACKS THAT WERE WORN IN THE VEGETATION BESIDE THE STRIP. HE BELIEVED THAT THESE TRACKS HAD BEEN FORMED BY OTHER ACFT & THOUGHT THE TAKEOFF WOULD BE SMOOTHER IF HE USED THEM. HOWEVER, THE TRACKS WERE FROM TRACTOR & PICKUP TRUCK TRAFFIC & WERE NOT INTENDED FOR USE AS A RWY. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF THE EDGE OF THE TRACTS & THE LEFT GEAR HIT A HIDDEN ROCK. THE ACFT THEN VEERED ABOUT 45 DEG FURTHER LEFT & THE LEFT WING HIT A SMALL TREE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.