# Accident 20020329009339A: Beech D35, Nacogdoches, TX, March 29, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 29, 2002, 21:10 local time - Place: Nacogdoches, TX - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 31.6664° N, 94.7111° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6664&lon=-94.7111&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2966B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2966B-2013-07-30) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech D35 (registry code 1151510, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D35 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA106) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020329009339A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON MARCH 29, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 2110 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A BEECH D-35, N2966B, SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED GONZALES, LOUISIANA, AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE FROM GONZALES. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT RECEIVED VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,500 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT TO FM 343, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND TERRAIN. THE PILOT AND REAR SEAT PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE, WALKED TO FM 343, WHERE THEY WERE TRANSPORTED BY LOCAL CITIZENS TO A STORE. A CITIZEN AT THE STORE CALLED 911, AND THE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED VIA GROUND AMBULANCE TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. TWO WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRPLANE'S GREEN AND RED LIGHT FLASHING AT APPROXIMATELY "TREE TOP HEIGHT." BOTH WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR THE ENGINE. THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 31 DEGREES 39.99 MINUTES NORTH; 94 DEGREES 42.84 MINUTES WEST IN A CREEK BED. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST INVERTED ON A MEASURED MAGNETIC HEADING OF 011 DEGREES APPROXIMATELY 54 FEET NORTH OF FM 343. THE DISTANCE TO THE A. L. MANGHAM JR. REGIONAL AIRPORT, NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS, WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 NAUTICAL MILES. THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEFT WING WAS FOLDED OVER THE CABIN, AND THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. BOTH WINGS EXHIBITED PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF TREE IMPACT. THE ENGINE CAME TO REST INVERTED IN APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET OF WATER. ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS STRAIGHT, AND ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS BENT AFT. OIL WAS FOUND ALONG THE ENTIRE LOWER SURFACE OF THE FUSELAGE. LOCAL AUTHORITIES, WHO RESPONDED TO THE SITE, REPORTED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE INTEGRITY OF THE RIGHT WING TIP TANK, AND THE LEFT WING MAIN TANK WAS COMPROMISED. AN ESTIMATED 9 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE RIGHT WING MAIN TANK, A FEW OUNCES IN THE LEFT WING TIP TANK, AND 1 GALLON IN THE FUSELAGE TANK. (-23) ON MARCH 29, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:10 PM, A SINGLE ENGINE BEECHCRAFT BONANZA MODEL D-35, N2966B, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE OIL WAS FOUND ALONG THE ENTIRE LOWER SURFACE OF THE FUSELAGE. LOCAL AUTHORITIES AT THE SITE REPORTED FUEL LEAKAGE. AN ESTIMATED 9 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE RIGHT WING MAIN TANK, A FEW OUNCES IN THE LEFT WING TIP TANK, AND 1 GALLON IN THE FUSELAGE TANK. THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE. THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE HAND OPERATED MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP AND THE ENGINE REMAINED STOPPED. ## 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 FTW02FA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02FA106), Mar 29, 2002: Beech D35 (N2966B), Nacogdoches, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the engine driven fuel pump drive pin resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing factors were inadequate maintenance, the pilot's inadequate use of the manual auxillary… 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.