Beech S-35 accident near Bridgeport, Connecticut, January 17, 1989
On January 17, 1989 at about 1:32 am local time, a Beech S-35, registered N6829Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Connecticut (Bridgeport Sikorsky airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITION AND LOSS OF POWER TO THE ENGINE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1989 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Connecticut · Bridgeport Sikorsky
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S-35 · all S-35s on the register
- Registration
- N6829Q · no longer on the register · serial 7364
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AFTER AN IFR FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS OPERATING ON THE RIGHT TANK, WHICH, WHEN EXAMINED BY THE FAA CONTAINED 1-2 GALLONS OF FUEL; THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED 30 GALS. A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN-UP DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 1988; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTV Burlington VT
- Destination: BDR Bridgeport CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 4,761 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.