Beech V35TC accident near Destin, Florida, April 17, 1983
On April 17, 1983 at about 8:42 pm local time, a Beech V35TC, registered N265T, was destroyed in an accident near Destin, Florida (Destin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1983 · about 8:42 pm local time
- Place
- Destin, Florida · Destin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35TC · all V35TCs on the register
- Registration
- N265T · registry record · serial D8502
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE, CRASHED & BURNED AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON THE FINAL APPROACH. THE ACFT WAS USING FUEL FROM A TANK THAT WAS LESS THAN HALF FULL. THE ACFT HAD MADE A GO-AROUND AND DURING THE PATTERN WAS OBSERVED TO BE OSCILLATING FROM SIDE TO SIDE FROM TURBULENCE OR PLT INPUTS. THE WIND WAS DESCRIBED AS GUSTY AND BUMPY. A PLACARD ON THIS ACFT STATES THAT PROLONGED SLIPS (20 SECONDS OR MORE) MUST BE AVOIDED WITH TANKS LESS THAN HALF FULL. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY.
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: 64 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-D1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL at 1:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from VPS, 20 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.