# Accident 20201227019939A: Beech H35, Santa Ynez, CA, December 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 27, 2020, 18:15 local time
- Place: Santa Ynez, CA
- Airport: Santa Ynez
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6079° N, 120.0843° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6079&lon=-120.0843&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5474D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5474D-2022-12-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech H35 (registry code 1151520, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,930 total, 170 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201227019939A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED KLPC WITH FULL FUEL, LANDED AT KHII, PICKED UP TWO PASSENGERS AND A DOG, PILOT DID NOT REFUEL. PILOT FLEW BACK TO KLPC, TIMES ENROUTE BOTH WAYS WERE AS EXPECTED BY THE PILOT. AT ABOUT 17 MILES FROM KLPC THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK, THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT MAIN TANK BUT STILL NO POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE DETENT, AND THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE PILOT LATER SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK, AND TURNED ON THE FUEL PUMP. THE PILOT THEN TURNED TOWARDS KIZA FOR LANDING BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSER. THE PILOT KEPT THINKING THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS THE PROBLEM, THAT HE DID NOT HAVE IT PROPERLY IN THE DETENT. AS THE PILOT GOT CLOSER TO KIZA HE SET UP FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 8. DURING THIS TIME THE PILOT SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP. AS THE PILOT GOT CLOSER TO THE AIRPORT HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, AND WAS GOING TO LAND SHORT. IT WAS NOW DARK AND WHEN THE PILOT FINALLY SAW THE GROUND, HE LOWERED THE GEAR AND TURNED ON THE LANDING LIGHTS. THE PILOT SAW A TREE HE WAS ABOUT TO HIT, AND MADE A QUICK BANK TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEVELED THE WINGS. THE PILOT REALIZED THE GROUND WAS SLOPING UP, SO HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND SLID SIDWAYS THRU A FENCE AND STOPPED . THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND EVERYBODY CLIMBED OUT OF THE AIRPLANE, NO POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 WPR21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA075), Dec 28, 2020: Beech 35 (N5474D), Santa Ynez, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

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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