Beech N35 accident near Delaware, Ohio, June 3, 1992
On June 3, 1992, a Beech N35, registered N1252Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delaware, Ohio (Delaware Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO WAKE TUBULENCE FROM A PRECEDING HELICOPTER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RECOGINIZE THE HAZARDS OF HIS CLOSE PROXIMITY BEHIND THE LANDING HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1992
- Place
- Delaware, Ohio · Delaware Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech N35 · all N35s on the register
- Registration
- N1252Z · no longer on the register · serial D-6715
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BONANZA WAS FOLLOWING AN ARMY AH-1S ON LANDING APPROACH. THE HELICOPTER CROSSED THE THRESHOLD AT APPROX 200 FT AGL AND PLANNED A TOUCHDOWN APPROX 1500 FT FROM THE APPROACH END. WHILE THE HELICOPTER WAS STILL ABOUT 250 FT FROM TOUCHDOWN, THE BONANZA CROSSED THE THRESHOLD AND WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL LEFT AND STRIKE THE GROUND WITH ITS LEFT WING. THE BONANZA CONTINUED ACROSS A TAXIWAY AND CAME REST IN AN AIRCRAFT PARKING AREA. THE HELICOPTER WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 8400 POUNDS. WHEN INTERVIEWED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BONANZA PILOT SAID HE WAS AWARE OF HELICOPTER WAKE TURBULENCE AND SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT SEPARATION BETWEEN HIS AIRPLANE AND THE PRECEDING HELICOPTER.
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: 1,618 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,029 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMH Columbus OH at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 4,098 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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.