Beech A35 accident near Shirley, New York, November 18, 1988
On November 18, 1988 at about 8:46 pm local time, a Beech A35, registered N8697A, was destroyed in an accident near Shirley, New York (Brookhaven airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, DUE TO THE FAILURE (SEPARATION) OF THE RIGHT RUDDER CONTROL CABLE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1988 · about 8:46 pm local time
- Place
- Shirley, New York · Brookhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N8697A · no longer on the register · serial D-2107
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A STEEP CLIMB ON TAKEOFF, TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, AND SPIRALED TO THE GROUND. THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE WAS FOUND SEPARATED UNDER THE FUEL TANK. THE CABLE STRANDS IN THE AREA OF THE SEPARATION WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CORROSION COMPLETELY CONSUMED MANY OF THE WIRES. ONLY A FEW RECOGNIZABLE FRACTURES WERE FOUND ON THE WIRES AND THESE FRACTURES APPEARED TYPICAL OF OVER STRESS SEPARATIONS. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT WAS PERFORMED 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 456 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,645 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,325 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from FOK, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.