- Date
- October 26, 1989, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place
- Clare, MI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8805ABeech B35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891026043119A
- Case key
- 14513
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 preflight by the pilot by not assuring that the fuel selector was properly positioned, which resulted in fuel starvation, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin.
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
During the initial climb phase of flight, the aircraft was observed to have a decrease of engine power followed by a deceleration of the aircraft with a nose high altitude. This was followed by a departure from controlled flight and impact with the terrain. The aircraft was destroyed by impact with the terrain and post-impact fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. Subsequent investigation revealed that the fuel selector was centered between the right and off positions. During testing, little airflow was possible through both the right and left inlets to the outlet, through the valve.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8805A
- Reported as
- Beech B35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2227
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert P. Kucher
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 20, 1988
- Departed
- 48D · Clare, MI
- Destination
- 3DA · Flushing, MI
- Airport
- 48D · Clare Muni., runway 26, 2,500 × 75 ft
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 985 total · 435 in this make and model · 919 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HTL, 31 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.