Beech 35 accident near Laconia, New Hampshire, December 13, 2003
On December 13, 2003 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3116V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laconia, New Hampshire (Laconia Municipal 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after experiencing a brake failure. A factor related to the accident was the failure of the brake master cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2003 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Laconia, New Hampshire · Laconia Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3116V · no longer on the register · serial D-539
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, as the airplane touched down on the runway, he observed that the right brake was not functioning. The pilot attempted to move his leg over to the right seat rudder pedals in an effort to use the brakes on that side; however, during the process, he inadvertently pushed the throttle to the full forward position with his knee. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway, proceeded over a grass area, over an embankment, and came to rest nose low in a swamp. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the brake master cylinder had failed.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 373 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 2003; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 7:45 pm
- Destination: LCI Laconia NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,286 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point -4°F (-20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from LCI
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.
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.