Beechcraft B35 N8860A

Summary

On 28 June 1996 at about 23:00 local time, a Beechcraft B35 registered N8860A, operated by David L. Williams, was involved in an accident near Portales, New Mexico, 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

28 June 1996 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Portales, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

34.1809, -103.3405

Aircraft

Beechcraft B35

Registration

N8860A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

David L. Williams

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA284

Nobody was injured.

failure by maintenance personnel to perform proper maintenance on the aircraft during an annual inspection, and failure to comply with an airworthiness directive.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While conducting a descent for landing at the destination airport, following a cross country flight, the pilot encountered what he described as 'high speed buffet.' Speed at the time was within the normal range. The pilot slowed the aircraft and the buffet discontinued. Following landing, the pilot inspected the aircraft and found the right stabilizer bent and twisted. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the stabilizers were out of balance and that required maintenance had either not been performed or was improperly performed. An examination of the aircraft records revealed an airworthiness directive applicable to the BE-35 had not been complied with during the annual inspection performed approximately 11 hours prior to this flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.