Beech BE 35 accident near Zellwood, Florida, October 20, 1985
On October 20, 1985 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Beech BE 35, registered N2805V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zellwood, Florida (Bob White airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- October 20, 1985 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Zellwood, Florida · Bob White
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE 35
- Registration
- N2805V · no longer on the register · serial D-203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT LANDED AT A TURF STRIP UTILIZING FULL FLAPS AND 6 UNITS OF NOSE UP TRIM. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE HE WAS IN A HURRY TO AVOID INCLEMENT WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION AND DID NOT UTILIZE A CHECK LIST HE NEVER RE-TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT AND ON THE TAKE OFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY. THE ACFT THEN STALL MUSHED RECONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE LOST CONTROL ON THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, STRIKING TREES AND COMING TO REST IN A 5 1/2 FT DEEP DITCH.
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
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,725 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 1984; 252 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E185 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: X61 Zellwood FL at 1:35 pm
- Destination: FXE Ft.Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,365 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from ORL, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.