Beech N35 accident near Middletown, New York, June 30, 1992
On June 30, 1992 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Beech N35, registered N1211Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middletown, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER ALTITUDE CONTROL BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1992 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech N35 · all N35s on the register
- Registration
- N1211Z · registry record · serial D-6681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT A LOWER THAN NORMAL ALTITUDE AND BEING OPERATED IN AN ERRATIC MANNER. THE AIRPLANE DROPPED BELOW A TREE LINE AND THEN REAPPEARED STRIKING THE TREES AND THE GROUND BEYOND. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND FUEL IN BOTH WING TANKS AND NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE 83 YEAR OLD PILOT HAD CHECKED OUT OF THE NURSING HOME WHERE HE WAS A RESIDENT TO FLY HIS AIRPLANE TO AN AIRPORT FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE AUTOPSY DISCLOSED AN OLD MYOCARDIAL INFARCT; HOWEVER, NO ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTS WERE OBSERVED. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT HAD DIFFUSE MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA.
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: 5,132 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ Montgomery NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,797 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC92LA136.