20101008048619A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech A35 · Blue Diamond, NV · October 8, 2010

Date: October 8, 2010 · 11:45 local
Place: Blue Diamond, NV
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8402A
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR11LA004
Reported as: Beech A35
Reported engine: Continental E225 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 175 total75 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N8402ARegistration cancelled Sep 10, 2013 · Beech A35S/N D-1814 · Built 1948 Airframe modelBeech A35 Engine modelContinental E225 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft engine quit due to possible fuel starvation. While attempting to land the aircraft on Nevada state 159 near the town of Blue Diamond, NV, the aircraft impacted the embankment along the south side of the highway causing the aircraft to veer to the right, subsequently ripping the left and right main gear from the aircraft. Both occupants were seriously injured in the accident. The fuel tank selector was in the "right" wing tank position. Right wing tank appeared to be empty, left tank had fuel approximatley two and on half inches from the filler opening in the top of the wing. Quantity in the "auxillary" tank could not be determined. The was no evidence of a breach in the ring wing tank as a result of the accident.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT DUE TO POSSIBLE FUEL STARVATION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON NEVADA STATE 159 NEAR THE TOWN OF BLUE DIAMOND, NV, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE EMBANKMENT ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, SUBSEQUENTLY RIPPING THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR FROM THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS IN THE "RIGHT" WING TANK POSITION. RIGHT WING TANK APPEARED TO BE EMPTY, LEFT TANK HAD FUEL APPROXIMATLEY TWO AND ON HALF INCHES FROM THE FILLER OPENING IN THE TOP OF THE WING. QUANTITY IN THE "AUXILLARY" TANK COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A BREACH IN THE RING WING TANK AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR11LA004Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBlue Diamond, NVThe pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Oct 8, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8402A · 1

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

Incident 19850528028329ILevel Off Touchdown · Avalon, CALeft main tire blew on landing. Ground looped with damage to right retraction rod and inboard gear door.May 28, 1985 · Minor damage