Beech 35 accident near Shadyside, Ohio, February 24, 1995
On February 24, 1995 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3344V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shadyside, Ohio. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of oil pressure, which resulted in the number six connecting rod failure and penetration through the crankcase.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1995 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Shadyside, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3344V · no longer on the register · serial D-807
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE OIL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED A LOW OIL QUANTITY. THE PILOT OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE ENTERING THE COCKPIT AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE SAW A FIELD OFF THE RIGHT WING AND ATTEMPTED TO GO THERE FOR A FORCED LANDING. WHILE APPROACHING THE FIELD THE PILOT DETERMINED THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT REACH THE FIELD AND DECIDED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE ON TOP OF SOME TREES IN A WOODED AREA. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED, '...THE NUMBER SIX CONNECTING ROD FAILED DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION AND THE RESULTANT BUILD UP OF HEAT WHICH MELTED THE ROD BEARING AND ROD BOLTS, CAUSING THE ROD TO BE FORCED THROUGH THE CRANKCASE.' THERE WAS NO OIL FOUND IN THE ENGINE THROUGHOUT THE EXAMINATION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Coulumbus OH at 3:55 pm
- Destination: HLG Wheeling WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.