- Date
- July 17, 1989, 21:17 local (Jul 18, 1989, 01:17 UTC)
- Place
- Charlottesville, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N118FCBeech V35TC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report April 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890717022549A
- Case key
- 11465
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper installation of the throttle and variable absolute controller assemblies by maintenance personnel which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While receiving VFR traffic advisories at 10,500 ft the plt reported a total loss of power. The aircraft crashed in a wooded area 1/4 mile nw of the Charlottesville arpt while receiving radar vectors. Investigation revealed a failure of the throttle control linkage between the throttle and the variable absolute controller assembly due to progressive wear. The failure would have allowed the throttle plate to vibrate to the closed position. Further exam revealed that a wave washer was missing in the linkage assembly. The engine had been overhauled and the turbocharger replaced 24 and 12 months respectively prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N118FC
- Reported as
- Beech V35TC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D8075
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-D, 255 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lemco Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 28, 1989
- Departed
- CLT · Charlotte, NC
- Destination
- CXY · Harrisburg, PA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,700 total · 1,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CHO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.