Beech E-35 accident near Calamus, Iowa, July 29, 1982
On July 29, 1982 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Beech E-35, registered N3476B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calamus, Iowa (Eastvold 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 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
- July 29, 1982 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Calamus, Iowa · Eastvold · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E-35 · all E-35s on the register
- Registration
- N3476B · no longer on the register · serial D-3702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF THE ACFT'S FUEL SYSTEM DURING ENG RUNUP, THE PLT MISTAKINGLY LEFT THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE FUSELAGE AUX TANK WHICH CONTAINED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL. WHEN THE ENG QUIT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE PLT MOVED THE SELECTOR TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK WHICH WAS ABOUT 1/2 FULL BUT IN HIS HASTE OVERSHOT THE DETENT. THE ENG FAILED TO RESTART & THE ACFT LANDED GEAR UP IN A CORN FIELD.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,300 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,178 as pilot in command; 1,223 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,503 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Clinton CO. Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: 5C3 Calamus IA at 9:00 am
- Destination: 5C3 Calamus IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.