Beech 35 accident near Tampa, Florida, October 15, 1988
On October 15, 1988 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N4553V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Mcdill Afb airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- October 15, 1988 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Mcdill Afb
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N4553V · no longer on the register · serial D-1381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THE ACFT WAS TOPPED WITH 30 GALS OF AUTO FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR THE OPEN HOUSE AT MCDILL AFB. THE FLT TO MCDILL WAS NORMAL. BEFORE DEPARTURE, ABOUT 1/2 INCH OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING PREFLT INSPECTION. AT ABOUT 300 FT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT & THE PLT MADE A FORCED LDG INTO A FIELD WHERE THE RT WING OF THE ACFT HIT A POLE AS IT SLID ALONG ON THE BELLY. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TEST-RUN SATISFACTORILY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 539 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 469 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCF
- Destination: CLW St. Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 11,400 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:40 pm from MCF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.