Beech 35 accident near Ames, Iowa, May 4, 1985
On May 4, 1985 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3068V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ames, Iowa (Ames Municipal 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
- May 4, 1985 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ames, Iowa · Ames Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3068V · registry record · serial D-482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTS THAT THE ACFT HAD SLOWED TO TAXI SPEED AFTER LANDING WHEN THE GEAR WARNING HORN BEGAN TO BLOW FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY FAILED TO REVEAL ANY DEFICIENCIES.
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: 485 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 429 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,220 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1985; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E185-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUX Sioux City IA at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.