# Accident 20220723013289A: Beech A35, Centralia, IL, July 23, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2022, 12:00 local time
- Place: Centralia, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5311° N, 89.0871° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5311&lon=-89.0871&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8466A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8466A-2022-11-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A35 (registry code 1151504, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a35) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E185 series (registry code 17014, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A35
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR E185 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, unknown or foreign certificate
- Pilot flight hours: 415 total, 17 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA22FA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22FA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220723013289A

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE:

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6500 FEET DURING DAY VMC, THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE OVER OR NEAR THE CENTRALIA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (ENL) CENTRALIA ILLINOIS.

ABOUT 4 OR 5 MINUTES AFTER SWITCHING TANKS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND REDUCED TO 1500 RPM. THE PILOT THOUGHT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PROPELLER AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THERE WERE NO OTHER ABNORMAL INDICATIONS OTHER THAN THE REDUCED RPM AND THE DECREASE IN ENGINE AND PROPELLER NOISE.

THE PILOT KEPT THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE RIGHT TANK AND PUMPED THE WOBBLE PUMP BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE.

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO GET TOO LOW DURING THE APPROACH, THEN THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 1500, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED A RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD ABOVE GROUND POOL.

-END-

## 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 DCA22FA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22FA157), Jul 23, 2022: Beech A35 (N8466A), Centralia, IL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s unsuccessful attempt to switch fuel tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the uninstalled fuel selector handle warning device.

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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