Beechcraft A35 N8581A

Summary

On 1 August 1989 at about 02:00 local time, a Beechcraft A35 registered N8581A, operated by Freshour, Glenn A., was involved in an accident near Hemet, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 1989 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hemet, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft A35

Registration

N8581A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Freshour, Glenn A.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hemet → Twentynine Palm

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA255

Nobody was injured.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD FLOWN IT WITHOUT MISHAP FOR 1.2 HOURS WHICH ALSO WAS THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE MODEL AIRCRAFT. THE 40-YEAR-OLD AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AND THE PILOT TOOK OFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST, AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXAMINED AND WAS FOUND CAPABLE OF FUNCTIONING. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK INDICATED THAT, PRIOR TO THE FLIGHTS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT, HIS LAST TWO FLIGHTS WERE IN JULY OF 1989 (0.7 HOURS) AND IN JUNE OF 1983 (4.7 HOURS). THE SPECIFIC EVENT IN THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR IN THE FUNCTIONING OF ITS SYSTEMS WHICH RESULTED IN THE NON-MECHANICAL ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS NOT IDENTIFIED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.