Beech H-35 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, May 30, 1988
On May 30, 1988, a Beech H-35, registered N904Q, was destroyed in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix 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
- May 30, 1988
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H-35 · all H-35s on the register
- Registration
- N904Q · no longer on the register · serial D-5084
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD JUST COMPLETED A FLIGHT FROM FARMINGTON, N.M., TO PHOENIX, AZ (PHX) WHERE SHE DEPLANED HER PAX. THE PLT DEPT PHX ENROUTE TO MESA, AZ, (FFZ). AFTER T.O. THE LCL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO TURN RIGHT TO 300 DEG AND TO TURN ON THE XPNDR; THE PLT COMPLIED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE LCL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PLT TO CONTACT THE DEPT CONTROLLER. THE PLT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS. GND WITNESSES RPTD THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHEN IT PITCHED OVER & CRASHED. THE INVESTIGATION DSCLD NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT AIRFRAME/ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. THE CABIN ENTRANCE DOOR WAS FOUND TO BE OPEN AT IMPACT, BUT THE LATCHING MECHANISM WAS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE PLT'S POSTMORTEM EXAM DISCLOSED THAT SHE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME & HER RT ARM WAS EXTENDED 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: 650 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Destination: FFZ Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.