Beech F35 accident near Medford, New Jersey, August 22, 1993
On August 22, 1993 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Beech F35, registered N3804B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medford, New Jersey (Flying W airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT A FUEL TANK THAT CONTAINED FUEL, AND PERFORM THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND HIS INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 1993 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Medford, New Jersey · Flying W
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F35 · all F35s on the register
- Registration
- N3804B · no longer on the register · serial D-4066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED A FLIGHT IN THE AIRPLANE, REPORTED THAT BOTH MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE DOWN TO ONE QUARTER FULL, AND THE AUXILIARY TANK WAS AT THREE QUARTERS FULL. DURING REFUELING, THE PILOT OF THIS FLIGHT HAD ONLY THE LEFT TANK FILLED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, AND AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR OF FLYING TIME THE PILOT TRANSMITTED ON UNICOM THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS HE TRANSMITTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD REGAINED POWER MOMENTARILY AND THEN QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO THE AIRPORT RUNWAY, STRUCK A TREE, NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED SEVERAL OTHER TREES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 9 OUNCES OF FUEL WHILE 12 1/2 GALLONS REMAINED IN THE LEFT TANK AND 7 1/2 GALLONS REMAINED IN THE AUXILIARY. THE ENGINE WAS PLACED ON A TEST STAND WITH ALL ORIGINAL COMPONENTS. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN WITH NO NOTICEABLE DEFICIENCIES. THE ELECTRICAL BOOST PUMP ALSO OPERATED WHEN TESTED. THIS WAS THE PILOTS SECOND FLIGHT AS A PIC IN THIS TYPE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
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: 349 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,996 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1993; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ken Marson Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,496 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from WRI, 11 miles away
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.