# Accident 20080906847939A: Beech G35, Knoxville, TN, September 6, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2008, 15:00 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Airport: Knoxville Downtown Island
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9636° N, 83.8736° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9636&lon=-83.8736&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4403D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4403D-2013-03-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech G35 (registry code 1151516, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E225 series (registry code 17015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH G35
- Reported engine: CONT E225*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA306) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080906847939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS MAKING A 25 MINUTE FLIGHT FORM 1A6, MIDDLESBORO, KY TO KDKX, DOWNTOWN ISLAND AIRPORT, KNOXVILLE, TN.  THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER ON THE BASE LEG TO RWY 26, THE PILOT USED THE WOBBLE PUMP TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING.  THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE ON FINAL.  WHEN THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, HE ELECTED TO DITCH IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER.  HE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.  THE PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED AND THEY EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT.  IT REMAINED AFLOAT FOR 1 MINUTE AND SUNK IN THE MAIN RIVER CHANNEL OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SWAM TO SHORE.  FURTHER INVESTIGATION WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE POWER LOSS.  THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS FUEL STARVATION.  THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SELECTED FOR THE RIGHT TANK AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE LEFT TANK.

## 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 NYC08LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA306), Sep 6, 2008: Beech G35 (N4403D), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations which resulted in total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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