Beech B35 accident near Burbank, California, April 19, 2010
On April 19, 2010 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N5032C, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Burbank, California (Burbank 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 airplane's encounter with turbulence while at an airspeed above maneuvering airspeed, which exceeded the limit load of the stabilizers and ruddervators.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2010 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Burbank, California · Burbank · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5032C · registry record · serial D-2294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during descent and at about 5,000 feet, the airplane was flying at 155-160 mph when it hit slight turbulence while in a 15 degree left turn and the tail started to flutter. The pilot quickly reduced power and raised the nose in accordance with the airplane's Pilot Information Manual. This stopped the vibration, which lasted a total of about 3 to 5 seconds. The rest of the approach and landing at the airport was uneventful. During the post-flight inspection, the pilot noticed wrinkles in the ruddervator. A mechanic determined that the left ruddervator had a cracked front spar and that the left stabilizer had wrinkled top skin and a cracked rear spar, which was bent up five inches. Examination of the ruddervators disclosed that they were within the balance requirements of the Beechcraft maintenance manual. The pilot stated that he was between 155 and 160 mph at the time of the turbulence encounter. The maximum structural cruising airspeed for this model variant of the Beech 35 series (Vno or Vc, and the beginning of the yellow caution arc) is 161 mph, and the maneuvering airspeed (Va) is 131 mph. By definition, maximum maneuvering speed (Va) is that speed at which full and abrupt control surface deflection or any turbulence encounter will result in an aerodynamic stall before the structural limit load will be exceeded and damage will occur. Above Va it is possible to incur structural damage with maneuvering inputs and/or significant turbulence encounters. The pilot was flying above Va but within the green airspeed arc when the airplane encountered the turbulence; however, he was not flying in the yellow arc above Vc/Vno and had no reason to believe that the airplane would encounter turbulence.
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
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Spars/ribs (on rudder) › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Spars/ribs (on vert stab) › Capability exceeded
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 696 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 644 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 17, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor E225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMOD Modesto CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: KBUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 5,802 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KBUR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.