Beechcraft 35 N1969D

Summary

On 16 December 1995 at about 21:00 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N1969D was involved in an accident near Kremmling, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 December 1995 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kremmling, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.0493, -106.3704

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N1969D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96FA072

2 people died.

a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the student pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector and the the CFI's inadequate fuel management. Factors in the accident were: the unmarked fuel selector and the CFI's excessive descent rate during the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After approximately 2 hours on a local area student training flight, the engine lost power following takeoff from a touch-and-go. A forced landing was made in a field and the aircraft remained intact following a high-g, flat, wings-level touchdown. Examination revealed the right wing fuel tank and auxiliary tank were empty, and the left tank contained 7 gallons. The fuel tank selector was between the left and right tank, and in that position would not pass fuel. The selector is located on the floor by the outboard forward corner of the left pilot's seat which the student pilot was occupying. It is not accessible or visible from the right pilot's seat. There were no markings on the selector panel; however, detents could be easily discerned by feel.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.