# Accident 19980704015779A: Beech D35, Driggs, ID, July 4, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 1998, 11:45 local time
- Place: Driggs, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7301° N, 111.2210° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7301&lon=-111.2210&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3469B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3469B-2000-01-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech D35 (registry code 1151510, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D35
- Reported engine: CONT IO470*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 217 total, 50 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980704015779A

## Narrative

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

LOST POWER ON APPROACH TO AIRPORT. UNABLE U59 LANDED ON DIRT ROAD. TORE OFF A WING ON A FENCE POST. FOULED IGNITERS. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PREPARING FOR LANDING, HE TURNED ON TO THE BASE LEG AND RESET THE MIXTURE, PROPELLER AND THROTTLE CONTROLS TO FULL FORWARD.  AT THIS TIME THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITH NO SUCCESS.  DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE, THE PILOT FELT THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY AND OPTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A FENCE POST.  POST-CRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS FOR TWO OF THE CYLINDERS WERE 'FOULED,' AND THAT THE PISTON HEADS FOR THESE CYLINDERS WERE BLACK AND DISPLAYED EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD-UP.  THE FUEL METERING UNIT WAS BENCH TESTED. DURING THE TEST, IT WAS FOUND THAT AT THE HIGH RPM SETTING, BOTH THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE AND THE FUEL FLOW PRESSURE WERE EXCESSIVELY OUT OF LIMITS.  IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT CONTAMINATION THAT APPEARED TO BE 'RUBBER' OR A 'GASKET-LIKE' MATERIAL WAS FOUND ON THE FUEL CONTROL VALVE, AND THE MANIFOLD VALVE SCREENS.  THIS SUBSTANCE WAS ALSO FOUND                                  UNDER AND AROUND THE SEAT AREA ON THE FUEL PUMP. LARGE AMOUNTS OF 'PARTICLES' WERE ALSO FOUND INSIDE THE PUMP RETURN FITTING.

## 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 SEA98LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA120), Jul 4, 1998: Beech D35 (N3469B), Driggs, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Excessive pressure in the fuel control unit. A foreign material/substance found on the fuel system screens was a factor.

## Other reports on N3469B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19961224044459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961224044459I), Dec 24, 1996: Beech D35 (N3469B), Beckwourth, CA, Minor damage. Narrative: during routine surveillance at the beckworth, CA airport, aircraft N3469B was observed to have damage to the nose gear wheel well doors and the…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.