# Accident 20140329002699A: Beech S35, Marathon, FL, March 29, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 29, 2014, 20:20 local time
- Place: Marathon, FL
- Airport: Marathon
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.7567° N, 81.0133° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.7567&lon=-81.0133&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8985M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8985M-2018-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech S35 (registry code 1151532, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14CA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140329002699A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 29, 2014, AT 1834 EST, A BEECHCRAFT BONANZA S-35, N8985M, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PILOTED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL HOLDING A COMMERCIAL PILOTS LICENSE, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT, DEPARTED X23 (UMATILLA MUNICIPAL) FOR KMTH (MARATHON AIRPORT). AT 2016 EST, PILOT CLOSED IFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH ATC, AIRCRAFT WAS AT 1900 FT MSL & 80-90 KNOTS AT THE TIME. THE PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO 15" PRESSURE AND DESCENDED, PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH. AT 1500FT MSL, THE PILOT EXTENDED FLAPS AND GEAR, THEN NOTICED BY THE VOLTMETER, THAT THE UPPER LANDING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND STARTED TO "FIDDLE" WITH THE SWITCH. ALL THE WHILE THE THROTTLE WAS STILL RETARDED TO 15" PRESSURE, WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MOVED TO 22? PRESSURE AFTER THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS WERE EXTENDED. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A DESCENT UNTIL SPLASH DOWN INTO THE GULF, 2.5 MILES FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 25 AT MTH, AT APPROXIMATELY 2020 LOCAL TIME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA14CA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA175), Mar 30, 2014: Beech S35 (N8985M), Marathon, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's distraction in the cockpit while on a visual approach over water during a dark night resulting in the airplane descending until impact with the water.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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