Beech B-35-P accident near Lake Wales, Florida, December 29, 1985
On December 29, 1985 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Beech B-35-P, registered N1544Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (Chalet Suzanne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- December 29, 1985 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Chalet Suzanne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B-35-P · all B-35-Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1544Z · no longer on the register · serial D7009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A WET SOD FIELD HE ROTATED PREMATURELY AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MUSHED AND CRASHED CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO ONE PASSENGER.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 729 hours in all; 666 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 613 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,705 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X25 Lake Wales FL at 5:25 pm
- Destination: VRB Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,450 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 17,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm from LAL, 16 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.