Beech V-35 accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, February 5, 1988
On February 5, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech V-35, registered N7987M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach Muni. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 5, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V-35 · all V-35s on the register
- Registration
- N7987M · registry record · serial D-8273
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT, THE ACFT LANDED GEAR UP. THE PLT STATED THAT HE LOWERED IT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR WARNING HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES EXCEPT FOR AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED WARNING HORN & AUTOMATIC GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM WHICH LOWERS THE GEAR WHEN THE AIRSPEED IS BELOW 120 MPH & THE THROTTLE IS REDUCED BELOW 18-20' MANIFOLD PRESSURE. THE PLT STATED THAT THE FIRST INDICATION HE HAD THAT THE GEAR WAS NOT DOWN WAS SEEING THE TIP OF THE PROP CURL UP. HE SAID THAT THE LANDING GEAR MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS 'TRIPPED'.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,205 hours in all; 1,630 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,925 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1987; 184 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4, 5,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from CRG, 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.