Beechcraft 35-A33 N4334W

Summary

On 10 July 2009 at about 16:15 local time, a Beechcraft 35-A33 registered N4334W was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 2009 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Las Vegas Municipal Airport (LVS)

Coordinates

35.5891, -105.2193

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35-A33

Registration

N4334W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Johns → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09FA430

2 people were seriously injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After a cross-country visual flight rules flight of one hour and 40 minutes, the pilot was landing at an airport with a surface elevation of 6,877 feet mean sea level. While on downwind for landing the pilot extended the landing gear and flaps, and set the engine power at 1,700 rpm. A witness at the airport heard the engine “sputtering,” then the engine failed and restarted twice before he heard the engine fail completely. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field one mile south of the airport and the airplane flipped inverted during the impact with terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged by the impact forces and the post-impact fire. The two occupants were seriously injured. The investigation revealed that adequate fuel was present, with symmetrical fire damage to both wings. The engine was tested at the manufacturer's facility and during the first start the engine started normally on the first attempt without hesitation or stumbling. The engine rpms were advanced in steps to 1200 rpm and held for five (5) minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to full open position and held for five minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was rapidly advanced from idle to full throttle six times. Throughout the test phase, the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation or interruption in power and demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.