Beech F35 accident near Pacoima, California, February 25, 1988
On February 25, 1988 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Beech F35, registered N5041B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacoima, California (Whiteman airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- February 25, 1988 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California · Whiteman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F35 · all F35s on the register
- Registration
- N5041B · registry record · serial D4308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE HAD INITIALLY PSND THE FUEL SELECTOR (SEL) TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK. HE SAID THAT AFTER ABT 1 HR OF FLT (NEAR PALMDALE, CA), HE PSND THE SEL TO THE RGT MAIN TANK FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN (NEAR PACOIMA), HE MOVED IT BACK TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK. THEREAFTER, THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS THE ACFT WAS NEARING THE DESTN AT 3500' MSL (2500' AGL). THE PLT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE COULD NOT VISUALLY ACQUIRE THE DESTN ARPT, SO HE REVERSED COURSE IN AN ATMT TO LAND AT WHITEMAN ARPT, BUT DID NOT REACH IT. DRG AN EMERG LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDEDWITH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY & SVRL AUTOS ABT 1/4 MI FROM THE ARPT. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN & RGT AUX FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY, BUT THE LEFT AUX & RGT MAIN TANKS WERE NEARLY FULL.
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: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 2:19 pm
- Destination: BUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,725 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:46 pm from BUR, 4 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.