# NTSB CEN16CA364: Beech V35B, N23583, Sioux Falls, SD, August 30, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2016, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Sioux Falls, SD
- Coordinates: 43.594444, -96.73278 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5944&lon=-96.7328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93988
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16CA364
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93988/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93988
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA364

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to adequately manage the available fuel supply, resulting in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate preflight by the pilot and flight instructor, and the flight instructor's failure to monitor the fuel levels.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on final during a practice instrument approach, the engine lost total power. An attempted engine restart and switching of the fuel tanks was unsuccessful. The flight instructor took control of the airplane from the pilot receiving instruction, and executed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was recovered from the field and about 1 cup of fuel was found in the right fuel tank, and the left wing fuel tank was about 3/4's full. The engine was functionally tested for about 10 minutes on the airframe with no anomalies noted. The pilot reported he did not check the wing fuel tanks during pre-flight and relied on the cockpit fuel gauges for fuel quantity.

## Factual narrative

While on final during a practice instrument approach, the engine lost total power. An attempted engine restart and switching of the fuel tanks was unsuccessful. The flight instructor took control of the airplane from the pilot receiving instruction, and executed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was recovered from the field and about 1 cup of fuel was found in the right fuel tank, and the left wing fuel tank was about 3/4's full. The engine was functionally tested for about 10 minutes on the airframe with no anomalies noted. The pilot reported he did not check the wing fuel tanks during pre-flight and relied on the cockpit fuel gauges for fuel quantity.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23583](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23583), registered now, S/N D-10087, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35B (B)
- Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-10087
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 3669.5
- Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: On File
- Registered owner: On File
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2016
- Departed: Y14, Tea, SD
- Destination: FSD, Sioux Falls, SD
- Airport: FSD, Joe Foss Field Airport, runway 21, 8,999 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 177 total, 106 in this make and model, 177 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 4, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,233 total, 30 in this make and model, 8,777 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: FSD, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20160830021549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160830021549A), Aug 30, 2016: Beech V35B, Sioux Falls, SD, Substantial damage. PIC was getting instrument instruction and was completing an asr approach and when the power was brought in to level off at the dh the aircraft started running…

## Other investigations on N23583 (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 CHI78FEE68](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEE68), Sep 19, 1978: Beech V35B (N23583), Dekalb, IL, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93988. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.

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