Beech A35 accident near Hemet, California, August 1, 1989
On August 1, 1989 at about 2:00 am local time, a Beech A35, registered N8581A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hemet, California. It was a personal 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1989 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Hemet, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N8581A · registry record · serial D2003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD FLOWN IT WITHOUT MISHAP FOR 1.2 HOURS WHICH ALSO WAS THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE MODEL AIRCRAFT. THE 40-YEAR-OLD AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AND THE PILOT TOOK OFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST, AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXAMINED AND WAS FOUND CAPABLE OF FUNCTIONING. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK INDICATED THAT, PRIOR TO THE FLIGHTS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT, HIS LAST TWO FLIGHTS WERE IN JULY OF 1989 (0.7 HOURS) AND IN JUNE OF 1983 (4.7 HOURS). THE SPECIFIC EVENT IN THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR IN THE FUNCTIONING OF ITS SYSTEMS WHICH RESULTED IN THE NON-MECHANICAL ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 510 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 341 as pilot in command; 169 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HMT Hemet CA at 1:58 am
- Destination: TNP Twentynine Palm CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.