Beech K35 accident near Morriston, Florida, September 7, 1988
On September 7, 1988 at about 8:03 pm local time, a Beech K35, registered N9525R, was destroyed in an accident near Morriston, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- September 7, 1988 · about 8:03 pm local time
- Place
- Morriston, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N9525R · no longer on the register · serial D-6075
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ABOUT 47 MILES FROM HOME AND NEARING COMPLETION OF A X-C FLT WITH HIS WIFE, FATHER, AND MOTHER. THE PLT HAD REQSTED VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING & HAD BEEN CRUISING AT 6500 FT. THE PLT ADVISED ATC THEY WERE DOWN TO 6250 FT & NEEDED TO DESCEND FURTHER TO REMAIN VFR. ATC ADVISED THE FLT THERE WAS OPPOSITE IFR TRAFFIC WHO HAD ADVISED HE WAS 'IN SOLID' & REQSTED THE VFR FLT TO DELAY DESCENT IF POSSIBLE UNTIL TRAFFIC WAS CLEAR. THE PLT AGREED BUT SAID 'WELL OK, I'M GOING TO BE IN THE CLDS.' ABOUT 45 SECS LATER, THE PLT ADVISED, 'OH YEAH, WE'RE WE'RE IN A SPIN, I'M NOT SURE WHICH WAY WE'RE GOIN' HERE, I'VE LOST IT, I'M SORRY. ' A GRND WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE REV UP IN THE CLDS, LOOKED UP & SAW THE FUSELAGE MINUS WINGS & TAIL SPINNING FROM OVRCST. THE WITNESS SAID VFR CONDTNS PREVAILED AT GRND LEVEL. THE PLT HAD OWNED ACFT ABOUT 2 YRS BUT NEVER REGSTED IT & THERE WAS NO ANNUAL INSP PERFORMED. NO PLT OR ACFT LOGBOOKS WERE FOUND.
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC
- Destination: BKV Brooksville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from GNV, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.