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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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May 24, 1985 · Beech V35 · N3778Q

Spokane, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 24, 1985
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Spokane, WA
Aircraft
Beech V35
Tail Number
N3778Q
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA85FA122

After what appeared to be a normal takeoff and initial climb, witnesses observed the aircraft level off at about 200 ft AGL and some heard sounds of power cessation. The aircraft was observed to commence a left turn during which the bank increased to an excessive angle. The aircraft pitched nose down and crashed in a gravel parking lot in an industrial area of the city. Investigation revealed the engine-driven fuel pump shaft had failed at the manufactured shear point due to binding of the pump blades against the bore. No foreign material was found in the bore but a small sliver of black rubber was found on the pump relief valve poppet. Engine fuel hoses had been replaced prior to this flight. Boost pump switch found in 'off' position. Previous aircraft owned by pilot had fuel boost pump switch located in different position in cockpit. Pilot/owner at controls not medically certificated. PIC in right seat not current in make/model.

Full Narrative

AFTER WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT LEVEL OFF AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL AND SOME HEARD SOUNDS OF POWER CESSATION. ACFT WAS OBERVED TO COMMENCE A LEFT TURN DURING WHICH THE BANK INCREASED TO AN EXCESSIVE ANGLE. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND CRASHED IN A GRAVEL PARKING LOT IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA OF THE CITY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP SHAFT HAD FAILED AT THE MANUFACTURED SHEAR POINT DUE TO BINDING OF THE PUMP BLADES AGAINST THE BORE. NO FOREIGN MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THE BORE BUT A SMALL SILVER OF BLACK RUBBER WAS FOUND ON THE PUMP RELIEF VALVE POPPET. ENGINE FUEL HOSES HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. BOOST PUMP SWITCH FOUND IN 'OFF' POSITION. PREVIOUS ACFT OWNED BY PLT HAD FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH LOCATED IN DIFFERENT POSITION IN COCKPIT. PLT/OWNER AT CONTROLS NOT MEDICALLY CERTIFICATED. PIC IN RT SEAT NOT CURRENT IN MAKE/MODEL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech V35
Tail NumberN3778Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 7 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter27.00 inHg
Observation Time19:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data