# Accident 20150812014829A: Beech N35, Weirsdale, FL, August 12, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 2015, 09:30 local time
- Place: Weirsdale, FL
- Airport: Love Field
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.9694° N, 81.8917° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9694&lon=-81.8917&mi=10
- Aircraft: N390Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N390Z-2018-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech N35 (registry code 1151528, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH N35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR I0-470
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15FA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA308) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150812014829A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 36 ON A NORTHERLY HEADING AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 1300 FEET, FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 36, WHEN IT STRUCK THE TOP OF A 40 FOOT TREE.  AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN, YAWING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION LOSING ALTITUDE.  THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND, IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, 130 FEET PAST INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE TREE. PROPELLER HUB SEPARATED FROM ENGINE CRANKSHAFT UPON IMPACT AND WAS LOCATED 3 FEET FROM FINAL LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE.  AIRCRAFT OVERTURNED AND WAS WEDGED BETWEEN TWO TREES IN A NEAR VERTICAL POSITION.  POST-ACCIDENT FIRE CONSUMED THE FUSELAGE, MOST OF THE RIGHT WING STRUCTURE, AND THE TAIL EMPENNAGE.  BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES.  POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF ENGINE AND PROPELLER REVEALED THAT, WHILE THE ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING POWER, THE POWER WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.  THE FUEL MIXTURE CONTROL LEVER WAS FOUND TO BE PULLED OUT (IDLE CUT OFF) AND THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP SWITCH WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE "ON" POSITION.

EXAMINATION OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEVER, AT THE MIXTURE CONTROL SHAFT, WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BRONZE CONTROL LEVER INSTALLED.  MIXTURE CONTROL LEVER WAS OPERATED THROUGH ITS NORMAL OPERATION, HOWEVER, IT APPEARED THAT THE LEVER WAS ROTATING ABOUT MIXTURE CONTROL SHAFT AND NOT ROTATING THE SHAFT ITSELF.  PART WAS REMOVED FROM ENGINE AND SENT TO ENGINE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE NTSB AND FAA.

## 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 ERA15FA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA308), Aug 12, 2015: Beech N35 (N390Z), Weirsdale, FL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during takeoff. The reason for the partial loss of power could not be determined due to the extensive fire and impact damage to the engine.

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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