Beech 35 accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon, December 7, 1991
On December 7, 1991, a Beech 35, registered N3323V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon (Kingsley Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO FOLLOW IFR PROCEDURES. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE GENERATOR FAILURE, OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES WITH EQUIPMENT, AND POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1991
- Place
- Klamath Falls, Oregon · Kingsley Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3323V · no longer on the register · serial D-784
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRLANES GENERATOR QUIT. THE PILOT OPTED TO DIVERT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHERE HE WAS DIRECTED TO FLY THE DME ARC FOR LANDING. THE PILOT WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE ARC FOR A SHORT TIME THEN TURNED INBOUND BEFORE INTERCEPTING THE PUBLISHED RADIAL INBOUND. THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW A STRAIGHT LINE COURSE TO THE AIRPORT AND EVENTUALLY REPORTED TO AIR TRAFFIC THAT HE WAS LOSING HIS RADIOS AND HIS BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD. THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO DESCEND OFF OF THE PUBLISHED PROCEDURES AND COLLIDED INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
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: 2,200 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,159 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: S21 Sunriver OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 10,301 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.