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20181024020779A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Beech J35 · Bellefonte, PA · October 24, 2018

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 24, 2018 · 00:30 local
Place
Bellefonte, PA
Airport
University Park
Phase of flight
Landing: Approach
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N8319D
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA19LA024
Reported as
Beech J35
Reported engine
Continental I0-470 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
2
Pilot’s certificates
Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours
10,288 total5 in this make and model112 in the last 90 days
N8319DRegistration cancelled Sep 27, 2019 · Beech J35S/N D-5452 · Built 1958Airframe modelBeech J35Engine modelContinental I0-470 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.

PIC and one passenger onboard aircraft.

PIC stated that they "topped off" with fuel at portsmouth, NH (psm) and proceeded to fly IFR to unv for a fuel stop enroute to Texas. Verified through port city air invoice (18-160255), 42.7 gallons of 100 ll fuel was serviced at psm. IFR flight plan filed with flight services. PIC stated they departed psm on October 23, 2018 at approximately 2140 l. PIC stated that on take-off he had the left main fuel tank selected and flew on the left tank position for approximately one hour to burn off approximately 10 gallons of fuel. PIC then said he switched to the aux fuel tank position and flew in that configuration for approximately one hour. PIC stated that for the last thirty minutes of the flight, he had the right main fuel tank selected. PIC stated that he was on final to unv, runway 24, traveling at approximately 100 KTS. When all of a sudden the engine just went quiet. PIC stated that everything was normal prior to the engine shutting down.

PIC stated that there was no sputtering, it just went quiet. PIC stated after the engine shut down he turned on the auxiliary fuel boost pump and tried to restart the engine but the engine did not restart. PIC did not try to select different fuel tank when attempting to restart the engine. PIC stated that he leveled the aircraft in preparation for impact after which the aircraft hit a number of treetops before impacting the ground, one mile short of runway 24 at unv.

As the FAA filed it

PIC AND ONE PASSENGER ONBOARD AIRCRAFT.

PIC STATED THAT THEY "TOPPED OFF" WITH FUEL AT PORTSMOUTH, NH (PSM) AND PROCEEDED TO FLY IFR TO UNV FOR A FUEL STOP ENROUTE TO TEXAS. VERIFIED THROUGH PORT CITY AIR INVOICE (18-160255), 42.7 GALLONS OF 100 LL FUEL WAS SERVICED AT PSM. IFR FLIGHT PLAN FILED WITH FLIGHT SERVICES. PIC STATED THEY DEPARTED PSM ON OCTOBER 23, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 2140 L. PIC STATED THAT ON TAKE-OFF HE HAD THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK SELECTED AND FLEW ON THE LEFT TANK POSITION FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR TO BURN OFF APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF FUEL. PIC THEN SAID HE SWITCHED TO THE AUX FUEL TANK POSITION AND FLEW IN THAT CONFIGURATION FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. PIC STATED THAT FOR THE LAST THIRTY MINUTES OF THE FLIGHT, HE HAD THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK SELECTED. PIC STATED THAT HE WAS ON FINAL TO UNV, RUNWAY 24, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 KTS. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE JUST WENT QUIET. PIC STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN.

PIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SPUTTERING, IT JUST WENT QUIET. PIC STATED AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN HE TURNED ON THE AUXILIARY FUEL BOOST PUMP AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART. PIC DID NOT TRY TO SELECT DIFFERENT FUEL TANK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE. PIC STATED THAT HE LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT IN PREPARATION FOR IMPACT AFTER WHICH THE AIRCRAFT HIT A NUMBER OF TREETOPS BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND, ONE MILE SHORT OF RUNWAY 24 AT UNV.

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 ERA19LA024Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportState College, PAThe pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Oct 24, 2018 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8319D · 1

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

Incident 19920501025359IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Newberry, SCSelector lever came off in his hand when he attempted to change tanks. Forced landing. Engine quit on rollout.May 1, 1992