Beech D-35 accident near Crystal Springs, Florida, March 18, 1986
On March 18, 1986 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Beech D-35, registered N5968C, was destroyed in an accident near Crystal Springs, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- March 18, 1986 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal Springs, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D-35 · all D-35s on the register
- Registration
- N5968C · no longer on the register · serial D-3415
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT PERFORMING AEROBATICS WHILE AT AN ESTIMATED ALT OF 1000 TO 1300 FT. AFTER THE COMPLETION OF A LOOP, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO NEARLY COME TO A STOP WHILE VERTICAL, THEN FALL OFF TO THE LEFT & ENTER A SPIN WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WORE PARACHUTES AS REQUIRED BY FAA REGULATIONS & A REVIEW OF THE PILOT'S FLT LOGBOOK REVEALED NO RECORD OF ANY AEROBATIC INSTRUCTION. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT MANUFACTURER, LOOPS & INTENTIONAL SPINS ARE PROHIBITED IN THIS ACFT.
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: 375 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 287 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ZPH Zephyrhills FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from TPA, 26 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.