Beech B35 accident near Hartington, Nebraska, March 19, 1990
On March 19, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N5047C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartington, Nebraska (Hartington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hartington, Nebraska · Hartington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5047C · no longer on the register · serial D-2309
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PILOT SAID THAT SHE INTENDED TO MAKE A SHORT FLIGHT TO WARM UP THE ENGINE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD, THEN CAREENED ACROSS THE TERRAIN COMING TO REST AGAINST A DIRT EMBANKMENT ABOUT 500 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL AIRFRAME, GEAR AND INSTRUMENT PANEL DAMAGE. THE PLT HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 12 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN THIS TYPE OF ACFT.
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: 168 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NE02 Hartington NE at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,650 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SUX, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N5047C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.