Beech P35 accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, June 24, 1996
On June 24, 1996 at about 4:37 pm local time, a Beech P35, registered N1527S, was destroyed in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida (Albert Whitted airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper procedure by not placing the fuel selector on the tank with the most fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1996 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · Albert Whitted · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P35 · all P35s on the register
- Registration
- N1527S · registry record · serial D-6970
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On 6/21 the airplane was refueled with 39.8 gallons. The flight departed on 6/24 at 0935. According to the right front seat passenger the pilot had completed a pre-flight inspection of the airplane including checking the fuel and draining the fuel tanks. About 5 miles north of the airport, the pilot contacted the tower controller and rerported that he had lost power and did not think he could make the runway. The controller observed the airplane turn to the left, enter a nose high attitude, and impact the water nose and left wing low. During the examination of the wreckage, water was drained from the right fuel tank and no fuel was present. The fuel selector was found selected to the right tank, and the fuel boost pump switch was broken. About 23 gallons of fuel was drained from the left fuel tank. Less than 1/2 ounce of water was found on the bottom of the left tank. There were no breaches found throughout the fuel system, and the fuel selector was free to move through all positions. The fuel supply lines were found clear and unobstructed. Overall visual examination of the engine compartment and airframe did not reveal any evidence of fuel stains or fuel leakage. The fuel selector was disassembled, no leaks or discrepancies were observed.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1995; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-LCN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Ashville NC at 1:35 pm
- Destination: SPG
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:49 pm from SPG, 1 miles away
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.