Beech H35 accident near Tucson, Arizona, March 30, 2015
On March 30, 2015 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1957 Beech H35, registered N112F, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Tucson, Arizona (Tucson Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2015 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Tucson Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35, built 1957 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N112F · no longer on the register · serial D-5200
- 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, after takeoff, the engine started to "sputter." He adjusted the fuel mixture control lever but noticed no change in engine performance. He determined that insufficient runway was available to land, so he initiated a forced landing into desert terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane struck vegetation and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and propeller revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the partial loss of power could not be determined. Review of the airplane manufacturer's climb performance chart revealed that, at the time of the accident, the weather and environmental conditions were within the airplane's takeoff performance limitations.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,580 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 5,900 as pilot in command; 1,780 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 28, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,910.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,903 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470N1B (piston); 2,017 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUS Tucson AZ at 6:15 pm
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11R, 8,408 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 6:27 pm from KTUS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 WPR15LA139.