Beech D35 accident near San Manuel, Arizona, February 11, 1993
On February 11, 1993 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Beech D35, registered N2908B, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Manuel, Arizona (San Manuel airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1993 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Manuel, Arizona · San Manuel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D35 · all D35s on the register
- Registration
- N2908B · no longer on the register · serial D-3553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING ON THE RUNWAY HE HAD JUST DEPARTED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING PHASE, THE PILOT PULLED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON, WHICH REGAINED PARTIAL POWER TO THE ENGINE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS DAMP AND COLD IN THE VALLEY AND THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED CARBURETOR ICING.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,876 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1992; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E77 at 6:15 pm
- Destination: LSB Lordsburg NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,214 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from DMA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.