Beech J35 accident near Knoxville, Iowa, June 12, 1983
On June 12, 1983 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Beech J35, registered N3054C, was destroyed in an accident near Knoxville, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- June 12, 1983 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N3054C · no longer on the register · serial D-5712
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO LIFT OFF THE RWY AFT ABT A 900 FT GROUND ROLL. THE LNDG GEAR BEGAN TO RETRACT AS IT LIFTED OFF, AND IT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN OVERFLYING THE AIRPORT HANGARS. IT WAS FURTHER OBSERVED WITH THE WINGS ALIGNED WITH THE GROUND IN A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN BFR ENTERING A RIGHT-HAND SPIN INTO THE GROUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1982; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXV Knoxville IA at 1:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from OTM, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.