Beech H35 accident near Corning, California, October 7, 1984
On October 7, 1984 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N3SE, was destroyed in an accident near Corning, California. It was a personal flight 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
- October 7, 1984 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Corning, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N3SE · no longer on the register · serial D5137
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT STATED HE DEPARTED SACRAMENTO EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH THE TIP TANKS EMPTY AND THE MAIN AND AUX FUEL TANKS FULL (APRX 57 GALLONS USABLE FUEL). HE STATED HE USED THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK FOR 35 MINUTES AND THEN SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT MAIN TANK FOR REMAINING 15 MINUTES TO REDDING. APRX 20 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING REDDING, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON FREEWAY OVERPASS DURING WHICH LEFT WING CONTACTED A CEMENT GUARD RAIL. ACFT TRAVELED OFF OVERPASS ONTO A GRASS INCLINE. EXAMINATION REVEALED RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. LEFT MAIN, LEFT AUX AND RIGHT AUX TANKS WERE FULL. ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY REQUIRING A MANUALLY OPERATED PUMP TO START ENGINE. ONE TERMINAL WIRE FOUND LOOSE ON BOOST PUMP BREAKER SWITCH ALLOWING SWITCH TO FAIL UNDER LOAD CONDITIONS. NO OTHER MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 1,141 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,310 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1984; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDD Redding CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from RBL, 13 miles away
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.