Beech G35 accident near Surprise, Arizona, May 7, 2016
On May 7, 2016 at about 11:55 pm local time, a 1956 Beech G35, registered N4401D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Surprise, Arizona. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's failure to properly secure the bolt connecting the throttle cable to the carburetor during the installation of the carburetor, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2016 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Surprise, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 NO SERIES, built 1956 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4401D · no longer on the register · serial D-4599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was asked to complete a maintenance test flight of the airplane following the installation of a repaired carburetor. He elected to use the flight to provide instruction to the private pilot who had requested a checkout in the airplane. The private pilot reported that the flight was initially normal, but then the engine stopped responding to throttle control. According to the private pilot, the engine remained at idle power as the airplane descended and impacted trees in a residential area. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the carburetor throttle cable was detached from the throttle body linkage. The bolt and castellated nut used to secure the throttle cable to the linkage were found lying separately in the engine cowling; there was no evidence that a cotter pin had been used to secure the nut on the bolt, as required. It is likely that the loss of engine power resulted from the failure of the mechanic who installed the carburetor to install the cotter pin when he attached the throttle cable to the carburetor. During the maintenance test flight, the castellated nut backed off of the bolt, which resulted in a loss of throttle control.
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
- Fuel related during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › (general) › Not installed/available
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,968.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,778 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors E-225-8 (piston); 1,521 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ at 11:30 pm
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 11:58 pm from KLUF, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 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 WPR16FA102.