Beechcraft K35 N15FF

Summary

On 18 February 1999 at about 18:45 local time, a Beechcraft K35 registered N15FF was involved in an accident near Gulfport, Mississippi, United States. One person was 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

18 February 1999 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulfport, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

30.4701, -89.1500

Aircraft

Beechcraft K35

Registration

N15FF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homestead → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA088

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation caused by an obstruction in the fuel vent system while maneuvering in IMC conditions, and the subsequent ditching into the Gulf of Mexico.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was indicating half full on his left main fuel tank, being vectored in IMC conditions by FAA Gulfport (Mississippi) Approach Control radar for an instrument landing, when he lost engine power. He thought that he had a least 12 to 15 gallons of fuel remaining. He could not regain engine power and ditched the airplane in the Gulf of Mexico. When the airplane was recovered 6 days later from the 6 to 8 feet depth water, about 12.5 to 13 gallons of uncontaminated blue colored 100LL aviation fuel remained in the left main fuel tank. Subsequent examination of the fuel system by FAA inspectors revealed a clogged left wing fuel vent system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.