# NTSB CEN09LA501: Beech 35, N4554V, Oklahoma City, OK, August 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2009, 19:00 local (Aug 6, 2009, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.601943, -97.706108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6019&lon=-97.7061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74465 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA501 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74465/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74465 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA501 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech 35, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech 35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Beech 35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1151502), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed and was destined for an airport 17 miles away for a planned fuel stop. While at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet and about 8 miles from his planned destination, the airplane's single engine stopped producing power. The pilot was able to restart the engine after he activated the electric fuel pump and selected the left fuel tank. The engine continued to produce power until approximately 3 miles from the destination airport when it again lost complete power. The pilot selected a field and executed a forced landing. During the landing rollout the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane’s fuel tanks were not breached and contained only a residual amount of fuel. The inspector further reported that the vegetation underneath the fuel tanks did not exhibit signatures of a fuel spill. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2009, about 1900 central daylight time, a single-engine Beech 35 airplane, N4554V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The private pilot, sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Integrity Aviation Solutions LLC., of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he had departed Myrick Airport (330K), Edmond, Oklahoma, and was destined 17 miles away for a planned fuel stop at the Sundance Airpark (HSD), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet and about 8 miles from HSD, the airplane's single engine stopped producing power. The pilot was able to restart the engine after he activated the electric fuel pump and selected the left fuel tank. The engine continued to produce power until approximately 3 miles from HSD, when it again lost complete power. The pilot selected a field and executed a force landing. During the landing rollout the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Pictures provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane’s stabilators sustained structural damage during the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site shortly after the accident. The inspector reported that the airplane’s fuel tanks were not breached and contained a residual amount of fuel. The inspector further reported that the vegetation underneath the fuel tanks did not exhibited signatures of a fuel spill. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4554V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4554V-2012-09-05), registration cancelled 2012-09-05, S/N D-1383, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 35 - Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-1383 - Airframe hours: 3241 - Engines: CONT MOTOR E185 SERIES 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Integrity Aviation Solutions LLC - Registered owner: Integrity Aviation Solutions LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 2008 - Departed: 330K, Edmond, OK - Destination: HSD, Oklahoma City, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 547 total, 1 in this make and model, 547 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090805013159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090805013159A), Aug 5, 2009: Beech 35BEECH, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power while inbound to Sundance Airpark (khsd) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Aircraft made an off airport landing approximately 3/4 mile… ## Other investigations on N4554V (2) 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 FTW67F0598](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67F0598), May 21, 1967: Beech E35 (N4554V), Duncan, OK, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X0896](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0896), Mar 12, 1964: Beechcraft A35 (N4554V), Topeka, KS, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74465. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Digital Photo 1, Side view (item 2, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photo%201,%20Side%20view-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.