Beech K-35 accident near Pullman, Washington, April 14, 1988
On April 14, 1988 at about 1:15 am local time, a Beech K-35, registered N40NL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pullman, Washington (Pullman/Moscow airport). It was a personal 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 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
- April 14, 1988 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Pullman, Washington · Pullman/Moscow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech K-35 · all K-35s on the register
- Registration
- N40NL · registry record · serial D-5743
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL FOR THE RUNWAY THE PILOT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY ONTO A FIELD, WHERE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. MECHANICS WHO EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WAS INOPERATIVE AND THAT THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS IN THE OFF POSITION.
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
- Flight time: 950 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S86 Sandpoint ID at 1:00 am
- Destination: PUW Pullman WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,731 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from PUW
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.