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20200517009849A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Beech J35 · Cascade Locks, OR · May 17, 2020

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 17, 2020 · 11:30 local
Place
Cascade Locks, OR
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N8359D
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR20LA161
Reported as
Beech J35
Reported engine
Continental I0-470 series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificates
Airline transport, commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
3,020 total161 in this make and model33 in the last 90 days
N8359DRegistration cancelled Jul 22, 2021 · Beech J35S/N D-5490 · 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.

Pilot departed the troutdale airport (ttd) at 11:15 for the purpose of a "pleasure flight". About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot did a low approach to runway 24 at Cascade Locks heading towards the river. Upon beginning the climb out, the engine lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and with few options decided to land in the river near shore. After landing in the water, the two occupants swam to shore. The aircraft sank in the water and was recover about a week later.

The pilot stated that he was on the auxiliary tanks when he decided to do the approach into Cascade Locks. As he approached he saw a person on the runway. He decided to keep the gear retracted and not do a normal approach to avoid scaring the person on the ground. The pilot feels that because of the distraction, and not conducting his normal pre-landing "gumps" check, he did not select the left or right tank. He feels it may be possible that the fuel was unported from the aux tank during the climb out, causing the engine failure.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED THE TROUTDALE AIRPORT (TTD) AT 11:15 FOR THE PURPOSE OF A "PLEASURE FLIGHT". ABOUT 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT DID A LOW APPROACH TO RUNWAY 24 AT CASCADE LOCKS HEADING TOWARDS THE RIVER. UPON BEGINNING THE CLIMB OUT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND WITH FEW OPTIONS DECIDED TO LAND IN THE RIVER NEAR SHORE. AFTER LANDING IN THE WATER, THE TWO OCCUPANTS SWAM TO SHORE. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN THE WATER AND WAS RECOVER ABOUT A WEEK LATER.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON THE AUXILIARY TANKS WHEN HE DECIDED TO DO THE APPROACH INTO CASCADE LOCKS. AS HE APPROACHED HE SAW A PERSON ON THE RUNWAY. HE DECIDED TO KEEP THE GEAR RETRACTED AND NOT DO A NORMAL APPROACH TO AVOID SCARING THE PERSON ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT FEELS THAT BECAUSE OF THE DISTRACTION, AND NOT CONDUCTING HIS NORMAL PRE-LANDING "GUMPS" CHECK, HE DID NOT SELECT THE LEFT OR RIGHT TANK. HE FEELS IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THE FUEL WAS UNPORTED FROM THE AUX TANK DURING THE CLIMB OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE.

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 WPR20LA161Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCascade Locks, ORThe pilot’s improper fuel tank selection which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine and a loss of engine power.May 17, 2020 · Substantial damage