Beech V35 accident near Tampa, Florida, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 7:26 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N3872N, was destroyed in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Tampa Intl airport). 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
- July 20, 1986 · about 7:26 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Tampa Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N3872N · no longer on the register · serial D1114
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT TRANSMITTED TO THE CONTRL TOWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF THAT HE HAD A DOOR AJAR, AND HE WAS TURNING BACK TO THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT EXECUTE A TEARDROP TYPE OF TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, GEAR DOWN AND IN A TIGHT TURN. THE WITNESSES THEN SAW THE AIRCRAFT STALL AND ENTER A LEFT SPIN UNTIL IMPACT. THERE WAS A POST CRASH FIRE. THE CABIN DOOR MECHANISM WAS FOUND ONLY PARTIALLY ENGAGED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,335 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,207 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TPA at 7:24 pm
- Destination: EVV Evansville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36R, 8,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:34 pm from TPA, 1 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.