Beech C35 accident near Martha'S Vineyard, Massachusetts, November 13, 1983
On November 13, 1983 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N1882D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Martha'S Vineyard, Massachusetts. 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 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
- November 13, 1983 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Martha'S Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N1882D · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD DEPARTED MARTHA'S VINEYARD ARPT & WAS CLIMBING OVER LAGOON POND (A LARGE BODY OF SALT WATER) AT APRX 900 FT AGL WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT DECIDED THE ARPT WAS TOO FAR AWAY FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING & THERE WERE TREES IN THE AREA, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE WATER. AFTER DITCHING, THE ACFT FLOATED FOR ABOUT 30 MIN, THAN SANK. IT REMAINED SUBMERGED FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK IN SALT WATER. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,430 hours in all; 1,190 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1,175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1983; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Martha Vineyard MA
- Destination: Pawtucket RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.