Beech C35 accident near Spencer, Iowa, June 7, 1987
On June 7, 1987 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N1931D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spencer, Iowa (Spencer 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
- June 7, 1987 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spencer, Iowa · Spencer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N1931D · no longer on the register · serial D3204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LDG, PIC FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND SWERVED OFF THE RWY. LDG GEAR COLLAPSED AND ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. WITNESSES SAID PLT AND PAX WERE BEHAVING IRRATIONALLY PRIOR TO LVF DEPARTURE APT. PIC LEFT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT AND TWO DAYS TRANSPIRED BEFORE AUTHORITIES WERE NOTIFIED. THE PLT AND PAX WERE ARRESTED THE FOLLOWING WEEK FOR POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHENALIA AND DRUGS. AT THE TIME OF ARREST THE POLICE REPORTED THEY APPEARED TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS. THE PLT ADMITTED HE WAS A DRUG USER.
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: 491 hours in all; 396 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 419 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1986; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C85 Baraboo WI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SPW Spender IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.