# Accident 20191123021739A: Beech E35, Okeechobee, FL, November 23, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2019, 12:44 local time
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Airport: Okeechobee County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.2606° N, 80.8475° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2606&lon=-80.8475&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3315C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3315C-2021-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech E35 (registry code 1151512, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E225 series (registry code 17015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR E225 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 264 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191123021739A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED OKEECHOBEE COUNTY AIRPORT (KOBE), OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA WITH TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD FOR MARATHON, FL. A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AND CLIMB OUT TO ABOUT 500 FEET THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE ENGINE POWER LOSS BY SWITCHING FUEL TANKS FROM RIGHT MAIN TANK TO LEFT MAIN TANK WITH NO EFFECT. THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE CARBURETOR HEAT WITH NO EFFECT. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND TURNED LEFT TO ATTEMPT A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A FIELD JUST OVER THE KOBE AIRPORT FENCE LINE. THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME, WINGS THEN WAS DESTROYED IN A POST-CRASH FIRE MAKING THIS AN ACCIDENT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DRILLED BOLT, WASHER, CASTELLATED NUT AND COTTER PIN WERE MISSING FROM THE THROTTLE CONTROL ASSEMBLY THAT CONNECTS THE THROTTLE LEVER TO THE PRESSURE CARBURETOR. THE BOLT, WASHER AND NUT WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE COWLING AT THE AIRCRAFT RECOVERY SITE SHOWING IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE POWER SETTING, THROTTLE AND CARBURETOR CAUSING THE ACCIDENT DUE TO MAINTENANCE NOT INSTALLING THE BOLT, WASHER, NUT AND COTTER PIN CORRECTLY. WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE ENGINE POWER SETTING THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO IMPACT THE GROUND RESULTING IN THE POST-CRASH FIRE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA20LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA044), Nov 23, 2019: Beech E35 (N3315C), Okeechobee, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: The separation of the throttle control cable from the carburetor throttle control lever resulting in the near total loss of engine power. Contributing to the separation of the throttle cable was the…

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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