# Accident 19971020031439A: Beech D17S, Chino, CA, October 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 1997, 19:25 local time
- Place: Chino, CA
- Airport: Chino Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.0002° N, 117.6798° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0002&lon=-117.6798&mi=10
- Aircraft: N67736, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67736) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech D17S (registry code 1150538, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series (registry code 52008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D17S
- Reported engine: PWA R985AN1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,715 total, 68 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA015) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971020031439A

## Narrative

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

ACFT LOST POWER AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RWYIN A FIELD, CHINO, CA. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE EXPERIENCED DURING THE 30-MINUTE-LONG NIGHTTIME FLIGHT IN HIS 1943 MODEL 'STAGGER WING' AIRPLANE. DURING THE FLIGHT HE HAD SWITCHED FUEL TANKS SEVERAL TIMES.  UPON TURNING ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH LEG AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT THE CENTER FUEL TANKS LOW FUEL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED.  THEREAFTER, THE FUEL PRESSURE DECREASED AND ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST.  THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE SWITCHED TANKS AND USED THE WOBBLE PUMP BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE.  THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A PLOWED FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH DIRT BERMS ABOUT 1/2 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.  DURING THE AIRFRAME EXAMINATION NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TWO UPPER WING TANKS, THE CENTER FUSELAGE TANK, OR IN THE LOWER WING'S RIGHT TANK.  APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS OBSERVED IN THE LOWER WING'S LEFT TANK.  AIRPLANE OPERATING PROCEDURES REQUIRED THE PILOT TO HAVE THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TOWARD THE CENTER FUEL TANK DURING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS.  THE LOWER WING TANKS ARE ONLY TO BE USED DURING LEVEL FLIGHT.

## 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 LAX98LA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA015), Oct 20, 1997: Beech D17S (N67736), Chino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and improper fuel management. Contributing factors were the nighttime conditions and the rough/uneven terrain.

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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