Beech M35 accident near Ottumwa, Iowa, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N313Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ottumwa, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were 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
- May 2, 1982 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Ottumwa, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N313Z · registry record · serial D-6465
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM EXCEEDED ITS MAXIMUM LIMIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE RPM BY USING THE PROPELLER CONTROL, BUT THIS HAD NO EFFECT. THE PILOT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE WHEN ENGINE OIL SPRAYED OUT THE COWLING AND ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO GLIDE TO AN AIRPORT, HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A CORN FIELD. AS HE APPROACHED THE FIELD, HE SAW POWERLINES IN HIS GLIDE PATH, THEN LANDED HARD WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED AFTER MANEUVERING TO AVOID THE LINES. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE GUIDE WAS WORN WELL BEYOND ITS SERVICE LIMIT AND ALLOWED EXCESSIVE BLOWBY FROM THE CRANKCASE. THE OIL SUPPLY HAD BEEN DEPLETED AND THERE WAS DETERIORATION OF METAL TO METAL PARTS DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION. THE VALVE GUIDE, PN 631496, HAD BEEN OUT OF PRODUCTION FOR ABOUT 8 OR 9 YEARS.
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
- Flight time: 446 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 348 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALO Waterloo IA at 2:40 pm
- Destination: HRO Harrison IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 151°F (66°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from OTM
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.