# Accident 20031019029349A: Beech 35C33, Mesquite, NV, October 19, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 2003, 16:25 local time
- Place: Mesquite, NV
- Airport: Mesquite Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8436° N, 114.0492° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8436&lon=-114.0492&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9438S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9438S-2004-12-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 35-C33 (registry code 1151408, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-c33) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35C33
- Reported engine: CONT IO470N
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 288 total, 2 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031019029349A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON OCTOBER 19, 2003, ABOUT 1625 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SHERRIF'S DEPUTY SAID HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE MESQUITE AIRPORT, HE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THE WRECKAGE OF AN AIRCRAFT BURNING. TWO OFF DUTY FIREMEN WERE FIGHTING THE FIRE WITH NO SUCCESS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS A BEECH DEBONAIR, 35-C33, S/N CD-1004, N9438S WHICH HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 100 YRDS FROM THE AIRPORT PROPERTY ON THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 190. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OWNED BY VTB FLIERS LLC. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE, LEAVING THE LEFT WING AND TAIL SECTION INTACT, THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT A HEADING OF 200 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST 25 FEET FROM INITIAL IMPACT AT A HEADING OF 240 DEGREES AS THE AIRCRAFT HAD VERY LITTLE FORWARD MOMENTUM. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TAKING INSTRUCTION FROM THE CO-PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. PRIOR TO THEM DEPARTING FROM HENDERSON AIRPORT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD FLOWN WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REFUELED PRIOR TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT TO MESQUITE. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM HENDERSON AT 1500 AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AT ABOUT 1625. IN TALKING WITH THE OWNERS OF THE AIRCRAFT IT WAS STANDARD FOR THEM TO KEEP 30 GALLONS IN EACH MAIN AND 6 GALLONS IN THE TIP TANKS FOR WEIGHT AND BALANCE PURPOSES. THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE POST IMPACT FIRE. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE NTSB CONDUCTED AN ENGINE TEARDOWN AND NO DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND. THIS ENDS THIS INVESTIGATION.

## 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 LAX04FA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04FA019), Oct 19, 2003: Beech 35-C33 (N9438S), Mesquite, NV, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: fuel starvation due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and fuel system management, and failure to select a fuel tank containing fuel. Also causal was the certified flight instructor's…

## Other reports on N9438S (1)

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

- [Incident 19990409021789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990409021789I), Apr 9, 1999: Beech V35B (N9438S), Olathe, KS, Minor damage. (-5) While in cruise flight, propeller spinner and backing plate seperated from propeller and damaged the engine forward cowl and both propeller blades. Pilot…

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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