Beech C35 accident near Sandy, Oregon, August 27, 1989
On August 27, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N5916C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandy, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF THE BOLT CONNECTING THE THROTTLE ROD TO THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE ARM AND AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED 5 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE OCCURRENCE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE OBSTRUCTIONS IN AND AROUND THE ONLY OPEN FIELD AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sandy, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N5916C · no longer on the register · serial D-3276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND CARTWHEELED. THE BOLT CONNECTING THE THROTTLE ARM TO THE THROTTLE ROD END WAS MISSING. A BOLT IDENTIFIED AS THE PROPER TYPE FOR THIS CONNECTION WAS FOUND LAYING AGAINST THE FIREWALL. THE BOLT IS SUPPOSDE TO BE SECURED WITH A CASTELLATED NUT AND A COTTER PIN. NEITHER THE NUT NOR THE COTTER PIN WAS FOUND. THE BOLT WAS NOT DAMAGED.AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED 5 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE OPEN FIELD USED FOR THE FORCED LANDING IS SURROUNDED BY 100 FT TREES, WITH BARBED WIRE FENCES 300 TO 400 FT APART. INITIAL GROUND IMPACT MARK WAS LOCATED 64 INCHES FROM A FENCE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,894 hours in all; 59 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 4,517 as pilot in command; 683 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,725 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 03S Sandy OR at 11:25 pm
- Destination: 7S3 Hillsboro OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from PDX, 18 miles away
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.