Beech V35 accident near De Funiak Sprgs, Florida, July 3, 2005
On July 3, 2005 at about 5:11 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N2056W, was substantially damaged in an accident near De Funiak Sprgs, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an emergency descent and an in-flight collision with tress and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2005 · about 5:11 pm local time
- Place
- De Funiak Sprgs, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N2056W · no longer on the register · serial D-8040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and his son were on an instrument flight rules personal cross-country flight in the pilot's airplane when the pilot reported a loss of engine power to air traffic control. He descended from his cruise altitude of 9000 feet msl, and attempted to reach an airport that the air traffic controller had directed him towards. He was unable to reach the airport, and stated that he was going to land on a roadway. He did not reach the roadway, and landed in a tree-covered swamp, colliding with several trees and coming to rest in a steep, nose-down attitude. There was the smell of fuel in the area, and both wing fuel tanks had been breached, allowing fuel to flow out of the tanks. Inspection of the airframe and engine disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical problems. The engine was removed to a test facility, and after minor repairs, was successfully run to full-rated rpm/horsepower.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLVJ Houston TX at 1:42 pm
- Destination: KPFN Panama City FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KCEW, 22 miles away
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.