Beech 35 accident near Decatur Island, Washington, August 20, 1983
On August 20, 1983 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N3038V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur Island, Washington (Decatur Shores airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1983 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur Island, Washington · Decatur Shores · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3038V · no longer on the register · serial D-444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE WAS USING 10 DEGREE OF FLAPS DURING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT & THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE TO REGAIN CONTROL. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT TURNED 100 DEGREES & STRUCK THE GROUND FROM ABOUT 15 TO 20 FT AGL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,370 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1,245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,388 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 4, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA18 Decatur Island WA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: 74S Anacortes WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,550 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.