Beech F-35 accident near Middlesboro, Kentucky, July 5, 2003
On July 5, 2003 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Beech F-35, registered N205, was destroyed in an accident near Middlesboro, Kentucky (Middlesboro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to descend into clouds, and his exceeding the maximum speed and design stress limits of the airplane, which resulted in an in-flight breakup and subsequent collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2003 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Middlesboro, Kentucky · Middlesboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F-35 · all F-35s on the register
- Registration
- N205 · no longer on the register · serial D4183
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 8 miles south of the destination airport, the pilot advised the air traffic controller that he had the airport in sight. The air traffic controller terminated the flight following and instructed the pilot to contact the airport UNICOM for advisories. No further radio transmissions were received from the airplane. Review of radar data revealed a target, transmitting a 1200 beacon code, southwest of the airport. The target was traveling northeast, level at 5,500 feet. The target remained in level flight, until it began a descent about 8 miles south of the airport. The target continued the descent and made a right turn about 2 miles east of the airport. About 3 miles northeast of the airport, the target was at an altitude of 4,400 feet, heading east. There were no further radar returns received from the target. Data extracted from a hand-held global positioning system (GPS) found in the wreckage, revealed that about 2 miles east of the airport, the airplane began a right hand turn, at 142 knots. During the turn, the airspeed increased an average of 8.6 knots over a 25 second period, to where the last GPS data point was recorded, about 3 miles northeast of the airport, as a heading of 163 degrees magnetic, and airspeed of 211 knots. The airplane experienced an in-flight breakup along a ridgeline within the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The weather recorded at the destination airport, about 6 minute after the accident included, wind from 160 degrees at 4 knots, visibility unrestricted at 10 miles, scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, temperature 83 degrees F, dew point temperature 71 degrees F, altimeter 30.12 Hg. Geostationary Operations Environmental Satellite number 12 (GOES-12) data was obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board's Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS) workstation. Examination of the data revealed an area of low clouds in the immediate vicinity of the accident site, with the tops being approximately 4,500 of feet. According to the airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook, the Never Exceed Speed was published as 173 KIAS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,974 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,886 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2002; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TYS Knoxville TN at 2:37 pm
- Destination: 1A6 Middlesboro KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 181°F (83°C), dew point 160°F (71°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:21 pm from 1A6, 3 miles away
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.