Beech BE-35 accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, August 5, 2002
On August 5, 2002 at about 7:59 pm local time, a Beech BE-35, registered N82Z, was destroyed in an accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho (Idaho Falls Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flying pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall/spin. An additional cause was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2002 · about 7:59 pm local time
- Place
- Idaho Falls, Idaho · Idaho Falls Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-35
- Registration
- N82Z · no longer on the register · serial D-3942
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the instructional flight entered a right closed VFR pattern for multiple touch-and-go landings. During the fourth pattern, just as the aircraft reached the location where the occupants were going to turn base, the tower advised them to make a left 360 degree turn and report reestablished on the downwind. One of the pilots advised the tower that they were just about to turn base, but because the tower needed the spacing to allow an IFR aircraft to depart, the controller repeated the instructions. One of the pilots read back the instructions, and then the aircraft entered a left 360 degree turn. Just about the time the aircraft was becoming reestablished on the downwind, the flying pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease below Vs (stalling speed), and the aircraft entered a spin.
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: 183 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 28, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,191.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 7:30 pm
- Destination: IDA ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 3005.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:18 pm from KIDA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.