Beech N35 accident near Burlington, Washington, October 2, 1992
On October 2, 1992 at about 10:53 pm local time, a Beech N35, registered N885R, was destroyed in an accident near Burlington, Washington (Skagit Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF SCREWS ON THE PROPELLER HUB DURING TAKEOFF, THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION BY THE PILOT TO RETURN FOR LANDING, AND THE STEEP, EXCESSIVE BANK ANGLE WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN AND LOSS OF CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1992 · about 10:53 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Washington · Skagit Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech N35 · all N35s on the register
- Registration
- N885R · no longer on the register · serial D6618
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT MADE LOUD RHYTHMIC NOISES DURING TAKEOFF. IT REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY AT A LOW ALTITUDE ABOVE THE GROUND IN AN INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE ENGINE SOUNDS DECREASED, THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE NOSE DROPPED DURING THE TURN, AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED NOSE DOWN, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND IGNITED IN FLAMES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED A PARTIALLY SEPARATED PROPELLER CYLINDER HUB BALANCE RING. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER REVEALED ONE CYLINDER MOUNTING SCREW WAS MISSING AND FOUR MOUNTING SCREWS CONTAINED FATIGUE CRACKING. THERE WAS A CLEARED AREA OFF THE END OF THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY AND A LARGE, LEVEL PASTURE BEYOND THE CLEARED AREA.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,732 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 1992; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aeronautical Services, INC.
The flight
- Destination: Friday Harbor WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,475 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.