Beech A35 accident near Orlando, Florida, September 29, 1983
On September 29, 1983 at about 3:29 pm local time, a Beech A35, registered N8678A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Executive airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 29, 1983 · about 3:29 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N8678A · no longer on the register · serial D2088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG WHEN THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE GEAR, THE PILOT BURNED OFF FUEL, HAD THE RWY FOAMED & A GEAR UP LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR WAS REMOVED AND THE WORM GEAR ASSEMBLY AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR WAS FOUND JAMMED. THE SPUR AND PINION WASHER (P/N 105-090CR-032-4J) WAS NOT INSTALLED & TWO BEARING SEAL RINGS (P/N NAS 50-125 AND P/N 35-810116) WERE NOT INSTALLED. ONE OF THESE DISTORTED SEAL RINGS WAS FOUND ON THE CABIN FLOOR NEAR THE LANDING GEAR HANDCRANK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,245 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 1,041 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1983; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FLL Ft. Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 4,620 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:29 pm from ORL
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.