Beechcraft D35 N940MD
3 April 1997 · Bartlesville, Oklahoma, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 3 April 1997 at about 23:33 local time, a Beechcraft D35 registered N940MD was involved in an accident near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and 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.
The record
- Date
- at 23:33
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bartlesville, Oklahoma, United States
- Nearest airport
- Bartlesville Municipal (BVO)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft D35
- Registration
- N940MD
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Tulsa → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW97LA149
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's selection of an empty fuel tank, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While en route, the owner/pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank, and observed that the fuel gauge indicated about 1/2 full. During a downwind entry for the runway, the engine sputtered and lost power. A forced landing was made in a field west of the runway. During the landing flare, the left wing struck the ground, then the nose hit. An FAA inspector reported that the pilot had positioned the fuel selector to the right tank; however, he had left the fuel tank indicator (gauge) at the left tank position. The gauge was indicating 1/2 full, and the left fuel tank was about 1/2 full. The right fuel tank was empty. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was not familiar with the fuel indicator gauge switch, which had to be positioned to the fuel tank being used in order to indicate fuel remaining in that tank.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft D35 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 1997 | Beechcraft D35 | Lexington, Kentucky, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1996 | Beechcraft D35 | Yellow Pine, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Jul 1998 | Beechcraft D35 | Driggs, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1999 | Beechcraft D35 | Indiantown, Florida, United States | Christopher M. Conlisk | Unknown | - |
| 24 Apr 1995 | Beechcraft D35 | McGehee, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 2000 | Beechcraft D35 | Agua Dulce, California, United States | Robert R. Kelsey | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1997 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) ERCOUPE 415-C | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1997 | North American NA-265-80 | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1997 | Piper PA-28-200 | Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Beechcraft C35 | Chickasha, Oklahoma, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1997 | Teschendorf CASSUTT SPORT | Stilwell, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Jul 1997 | Piper PA-25-235 | Blackwell, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |