# NTSB MIA86LA049: Beech B-35-P, N1544Z, Lake Wales, FL, December 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1985, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Coordinates: 27.870981, -81.629203 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8710&lon=-81.6292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA049

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A WET SOD FIELD HE ROTATED PREMATURELY AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MUSHED AND CRASHED CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO ONE PASSENGER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1544Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech B-35-P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D7009
- Airframe hours: 2705
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carl H. Knowles
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 1985, 20 hours before
- Departed: X25, LAKE WALES, FL
- Destination: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Airport: X25, Chalet Suzanne, runway 36, 2,450 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 729 total, 666 in this make and model, 613 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 16 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851229063829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851229063829A), Dec 29, 1985: Beech P35BEECH, Lake Wales, FL, Substantial damage. Rotated prematurely on takeoff from a wet sod runway. Got airborne, stalled and impacted the ground.

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.

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