Beech H35 accident near Modesto, California, December 22, 1983
On December 22, 1983 at about 2:34 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N5441D, was destroyed in an accident near Modesto, California (Modesto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- December 22, 1983 · about 2:34 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · Modesto
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N5441D · no longer on the register · serial D4952
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TAXIED & INITIATED A TAKEOFF WITHOUT OBTAINING A CLEARANCE. THE TOWER CONTROLLER OBSERVED THE ACFT TAKE OFF, IMMEDIATELY TURN LEFT, THEN COLLIDE WITH A 10 FT DIRT BANK, LOCATED BETWEEN THE PARALLEL RWYS. AFTER HITTING THE DIRT BANK, THE ACFT SKIDDED ACROSS AN ADJOINING TAXIWAY BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & HOSPITALIZED. PRIOR TO EXPIRING ON 1/2/84 HE TOLD HIS WIFE THAT THE ENG QUIT DURING TAKEOFF & HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TRYING TO RESTART THE ENG. HE REPORTEDLY SAID THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SET THE ACFT DOWN ON A PARALLEL RWY. ALSO, HIS WIFE & A POLICE OFFICER STATED THE PLT TOLD THEM THAT HE 'BLACKED OUT' DURING THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE. DURING AN EXAM OF THE ACFT, THE MAIN FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. NO ENG MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. AUTOPSYREVEALED EVIDENCE OF A DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS WITH A PULMONARY EMBOLUS WITH GENERALIZED CEREBRAL ARTERIOSCEROSIS, CORONARRY ARTERIOSCLEROSIS, & ARTERIAL NEPHROSCLEROSIS.
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: 7,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,001 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10R, 3,466 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from MOD
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.