Beech H35 accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, May 6, 2004
On May 6, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N87AD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida (Aero Acres Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain the proper glide path during the approach which resulted in the airplane undershooting the runway and not attaining the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · Aero Acres Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N87AD · registry record · serial D-4943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while on very short final he encountered a sudden downdraft, which drove the airplane downward, resulting in a hard landing short of the beginning of the runway. He stated that as a result of the impact the airplane incurred substantial damage, and added that prior to the accident, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane, or any of its systems.
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: 1,347 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,357.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 24, 2003; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,910 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental 260-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FD88 Fort Pierce FL
- Destination: FD88
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 310 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from FPR, 10 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.