Beech J35 accident near Bunnell, Florida, August 2, 1986
On August 2, 1986 at about 2:00 am local time, a Beech J35, registered N57UT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- August 2, 1986 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N57UT · no longer on the register · serial D-5495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE BECAME DISTRACTED & FORGOT TO PUT THE LANDING GEAR DOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WARNING HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WARNING HORN MICROSWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.
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: 464 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 464 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from DAB, 18 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.