Beech V35B accident near Humacao, Puerto Rico, March 13, 2003
On March 13, 2003 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N35SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Humacao, Puerto Rico (Humacao airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane departing the left side of the runway, and impacting with a ditch. Factors in this accident were; the pilot did not follow the procedures, and deactivate the yaw damper.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2003 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Humacao, Puerto Rico · Humacao · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N35SR · no longer on the register · serial 10136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he landed on runway 10, and during the roll out the airplane veered to the left, and impacted with a ditch. He stated that on the downwind leg he completed a landing check, and he believed the yaw damper was "disengaged," but did not physically check to see that it was disengaged. He said just before touchdown he felt lateral directional movement, and the nose "kicked left a few degrees." He attempted to steer the airplane back to the center of the runway, but the rudder was "locked." He then realized that he did not disengage the yaw damper and attempt to correct the airplane's directional control was unsuccessful. At this point the airplane was partially off the runway and finally departed the left side of the runway. The airplane traveled through some tall weeds, and "dropped into a ditch. In addition, the pilot said he had landed with a crosswind from the left.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,338 hours in all; 385 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 27, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,062.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 360 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO Hollywood FL at 3:15 pm
- Destination: X63 Humacao PR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10, 2,450 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.