Beech H35 accident near Cedar Key, Florida, April 17, 1983
On April 17, 1983 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N8225D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Key, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N8225D · registry record · serial 5314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS JUST BEFORE THE TAKEOFF ROLL, & SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. HE RETRACTED THE GEAR BEFORE MAKING A FORCED LANDING IN WATER, BEYOND THE END OF THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST ANY FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 935 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 825 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1982; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SRQ Sarasota FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from GNV, 52 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.