- Date
- June 7, 1997, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N35MDBeech V35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970607013569A
- Case key
- 3855
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's mismanagement of fuel, resulting in fuel exhaustion.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the engine quit while on final approach to the destination airport. He stated that he switched fuel tanks from the right to the left and attempted a restart, however there was not enough time. Once past the displaced threshold, the airplane stalled, and the left wing tip impacted the ground and the airplane came to rest right side up. The pilot later stated that he exhausted the fuel from the right tank.
Factual narrative
On June 7, 1997, at 1145 eastern daylight time (EDT), N35MD, a Beech V35, landed hard at Spruce Creek Airport, in Daytona Beach, FL. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, the two passengers sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Fort Pierce at 1100.
A witness was taxiing to the run-up area for runway 23, behind a line of trees facing northwest, when he recognized N35MD pilot's voice on the radio. He heard the pilot declare an emergency. He stated that, about 20 seconds later, he saw a "V-tail Bonanza at about 75 feet altitude over the displaced threshold, in a slipping 45 degree bank to the left, descending rapidly towards the runway surface, with approximately level pitch". The witness stated he then saw the left wing hit the runway and then the airplane went out of sight behind the trees. He stated he taxied onto the runway and saw N35MD on "the runway, right side up, and badly damaged".
According to the FAA inspector who interviewed the pilot, the pilot stated that he exhausted the fuel from the right tank and the engine quit while on final approach. The pilot switched to the left tank and was unsuccessful in restarting the engine. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.
According to the FAA inspector the propellers were severely bent, the left tip tank was dented, the nose gear was collapsed, the engine cowling was dented, and both wings were penetrated by the main gear. Also, there was an oil and fuel leak.
The pilot performed his biennial requirements through the Wings program, in accordance with AC-6198.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N35MD
- Reported as
- Beech V35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-8506
- Airframe hours
- 3,766
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-BA2, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Herbert O Bricker, Md
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 9, 1996 · 88 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Fort Pierce, FL
- Destination
- 44J · FL
- Airport
- 44J · Spruce Creek, runway 23, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 79
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,766 total · 3,766 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 6 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.