Beech 35R accident near Sun City West, Arizona, August 15, 1986
On August 15, 1986 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Beech 35R, registered N3371V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sun City West, Arizona (Hart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 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
- August 15, 1986 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sun City West, Arizona · Hart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35R · all 35Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3371V · no longer on the register · serial D-838-R4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BEECHCRAFT BE-35R LOST ALT DURING INITIAL CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PLT DESCRIBED THE TAKEOFF AS NORMAL UNTIL HE REACHED AN ALT OF 100 TO 125 FT AGL AND STARTED TO TURN LEFT. THE PLT STATED, 'THE AIRCRAFT ACTED LIKE IT LOST ALL ITS LIFT.' INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO WEIGHT AND BALANCE RECORDS ONBOARD THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT WAS USING PERFORMANCE DATA FROM A 'C' MODEL BONANZA FLIGHT MANUAL. THE 'C' MODEL BONANZA IS EQUIPPED WITH A CONTINENTAL E-185-1 ENGINE THAT PRODUCES 205 HORSEPOWER WHERE AS THE CONTINENTAL E-185-1 INSTALLED IN THE ACFT ONLY PRODUCES 185 HORSEPOWER. THE PLT COMPUTED THE GROSS WEIGHT FOR TAKEOFF AS 2,683.4 LBS, 33 LBS OVER THE MAX GWT FOR THE ACFT. THE TEMP WAS REPORTED TO BE 106 DEGREES F AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE DENSITY ALT FOR THE 1,313 FOOT ELEVATION WAS COMPUTED AT 4,400 FT.
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: 754 hours in all; 718 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 746 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1986; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental E185-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sun City West AZ at 9:50 pm
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from PHX, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.