Beech V35B accident near Key Largo, Florida, March 24, 1993
On March 24, 1993 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N18368, was substantially damaged in an accident near Key Largo, Florida (Ocean Reef Club Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S COMPLACENCY AND DECISION TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS UNATTENDED WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AND WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1993 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Key Largo, Florida · Ocean Reef Club Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N18368 · registry record · serial D10049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STARTED THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE AND MOVED THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. HE THEN REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO CHECK A TIRE. HE DID NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER CHECKING THE TIRE FROM IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT WING HE HEARD THE ENGINE COUGH A FEW TIMES AND THEN INCREASE IN SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND HE PUSHED ON THE RIGHT WING IN ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED 150 DEGREES AND HE WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TRAVELED ACROSS A ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND A TRASH DUMPSTER.
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: 2,784 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,559 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,361 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1992; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X09 at 2:30 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from HST, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.