# Accident 19970719018939A: Beech C35BEECH, Chickasha, OK, July 19, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 1997, 00:10 local time
- Place: Chickasha, OK
- Airport: Chickasha Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0395° N, 97.9490° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0395&lon=-97.9490&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1878D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1878D-2010-03-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech C35 (registry code 1151508, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C35BEECH
- Reported engine: CONT E18511
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 64 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA272) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970719018939A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT HAD BEEN PRACTICING NIGHT LANDINGS AT THE CHICKASHA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN (FOR RUNWAY 17), THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANCE STRUCK A FENCE AND CROSSED A DITCH, COLLAPSING THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE NORTH OF RUNWAY 17. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE SELECTED THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND THINKS THE ENGINE QUIT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL LEFT IN THE LEFT TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND TIP TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE FROM THAT TANK. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL; IT WAS LEAKING FROM ITS FILLER CAP. THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE AIRPLANE STATED IN SECTION IV, NORMAL PROCEDURES, PAGE 4-10, BEFORE LANDING, 'FUEL SELECTOR VALVE- SELECT MAIN TANK MORE NEARLY FULL'.(-23) THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING NIGHT LANDINGS WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD 1/2 MILE NORTH OF CHICKASHA AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE, CROSSED A DITCH COLLAPSING THE NOSE LANDING GEAR, AND THEN NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED A QUARTER TANK AND HE HAD SELECTED THE LEFT TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA272), Jul 19, 1997: Beech C35 (N1878D), Chickasha, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's failure to follow the checklist,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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