Beechcraft M35 N223C

Summary

On 30 March 1997 at about 21:30 local time, a Beechcraft M35 registered N223C was involved in an accident near Iowa Park, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 March 1997 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Iowa Park, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Wichita Valley (F14)

Coordinates

33.9504, -98.6804

Aircraft

Beechcraft M35

Registration

N223C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA147

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's refueling of the airplane with automotive grade fuel which resulted in engine failure due to detonation. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on its initial takeoff climb when the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field, and during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch. An engine teardown revealed that the number 1, 2, 5, and 6 pistons were cracked, and the number 3 and 4 pistons had separated from their piston pins and were lodged in the top of their respective cylinders. An analysis of the fuel found in the airplane established that it was automotive gasoline (octane grade 87 to 92). As listed in the limitations section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the minimum octane grade of fuel approved for use in the airplane was 100. The use of low-grade fuel can lead to detonation, which is defined in FAA Advisory Circular 61-23B as a sudden explosion or shock to a small area of the piston top.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.