Beechcraft C35 N1997D

Summary

On 15 July 1995 at about 18:43 local time, a Beechcraft C35 registered N1997D was involved in an accident near Plano, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 1995 at 18:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Plano, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.0293, -96.8105

Aircraft

Beechcraft C35

Registration

N1997D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lancaster → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95FA300

1 person was seriously injured.

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE IMPROPER POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR, AND FAILURE THE PILOT TO FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AND ADDED FULL THROTTLE, BUT DID NOT SWITCH FUEL TANKS. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD; HOWEVER, PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK, AND THE LEFT MAIN TANK WAS EMPTY. FUEL WAS AVAILABLE IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK. ALSO, THE SINGLE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE WAS SET TO INDICATE THE FUEL QUANTITY IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK. THE MANUFACTURER'S EMERGENCY PROCEDURE CALLED FOR THE PILOT TO CHANGE TANKS FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD RECENTLY FOUND WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND BELIEVED THE POWER LOSS WAS A RESULT OF THE CONTAMINATION. A TRACE OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE MAIN FUEL SUMP; HOWEVER, THE WATER LEVEL IN THE SUMP WAS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE FUEL OUTLET TO THE ENGINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.