Beech P-35 accident near Bend, Oregon, August 18, 1995
On August 18, 1995 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Beech P-35, registered N9531Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bend, Oregon. It was a business 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
seizure of the #4 connecting rod bearing due to overtemperature resulting in the separation of the connecting rod and total loss of engine power. A factor contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1995 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bend, Oregon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech P-35 · all P-35s on the register
- Registration
- N9531Y · registry record · serial D7020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the pilot noticed a loss of oil pressure which was followed by a total loss of engine power. He elected to ditch the airplane in a lake as no other suitable forced landing site was available. An examination of the engine revealed the that the #4 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft at the end cap. The rod end cap bolts had separated from the cap, and exhibited evidence of necking and heat distress. The #4 rod journal also exhibited evidence of heat distress. The bearings associated with the #4 rod journal were destroyed. All other rod journals and all of the main bearing journals did not exhibit evidence of heat distress or lack of lubrication.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,125 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-LCN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OTH North Bend OR at 9:45 pm
- Destination: 50OR Alfalfa OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA95LA186.