Beech V35 accident near Spokane, Washington, May 24, 1985
On May 24, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech V35, registered N3778Q, was destroyed in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Unknown airport). It was a personal 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 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
- May 24, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35 · all V35s on the register
- Registration
- N3778Q · no longer on the register · serial D8408
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT LEVEL OFF AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL AND SOME HEARD SOUNDS OF POWER CESSATION. ACFT WAS OBERVED TO COMMENCE A LEFT TURN DURING WHICH THE BANK INCREASED TO AN EXCESSIVE ANGLE. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND CRASHED IN A GRAVEL PARKING LOT IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA OF THE CITY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP SHAFT HAD FAILED AT THE MANUFACTURED SHEAR POINT DUE TO BINDING OF THE PUMP BLADES AGAINST THE BORE. NO FOREIGN MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THE BORE BUT A SMALL SILVER OF BLACK RUBBER WAS FOUND ON THE PUMP RELIEF VALVE POPPET. ENGINE FUEL HOSES HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. BOOST PUMP SWITCH FOUND IN 'OFF' POSITION. PREVIOUS ACFT OWNED BY PLT HAD FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH LOCATED IN DIFFERENT POSITION IN COCKPIT. PLT/OWNER AT CONTROLS NOT MEDICALLY CERTIFICATED. PIC IN RT SEAT NOT CURRENT IN MAKE/MODEL.
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: 2,380 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1984; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF at 7:58 pm
- Destination: YKA Kamloops OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 27.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from SFF, 25 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.