- Date
- September 7, 2020, 12:47 local (17:47 UTC)
- Place
- Canyon Lake, TX
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4636DBeech 35
- Defining event
- Enroute: Unknown or undetermined
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 3
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Textron Aviation, FAA-SAT FSDO
- FAA report
- 20200907014279A
- Case key
- 101920
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 total loss of engine power for a reason that could not be determined based on available information.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane’s engine lost all power shortly after he switched fuel tanks in preparation for landing. Attempts to restart, which included selecting the other fuel tanks, were unsuccessful. The airplane was damaged when it struck trees and terrain during the subsequent forced landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s engine and fuel system failed to reveal a reason for the reported loss of engine power. Based on available evidence, the accident was the result of a total loss of engine power for a reason that could not be determined based on available information.
Factual narrative
On September 7, 2020, about 1247 central daylight time, a Beech G35 airplane, N4636D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Canyon Lake, Texas. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. A second passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while enroute to the Canyon Lake Airport (34TS) the engine lost all power shortly after he switched the fuel selector to the left main fuel tank in preparation for landing. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a clearing but struck trees on the edge of the clearing and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane incurred substantial damage to its fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s engine and fuel system did not reveal a reason for the reported loss of engine power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4636D
- Reported as
- Beech 35 (G35)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-4801
- Built
- 1956
- Airframe hours
- 4,556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 10, 2020
- Departed
- FST · Fort Stockton, TX
- Destination
- 34TS · Canyon Lake, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- 34TS · Canyon Lake
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
- 65
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- April 15, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 4,372 total · 150 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- BAZ, 16 nm away
Docket · 7
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.