# NTSB CEN25LA347: Beech C35, N655D, Lakeview, TX, August 26, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 26, 2025, 18:57 local (23:57 UTC) - Place: Lakeview, TX · field - Coordinates: 34.683333, -100.7 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6833&lon=-100.7000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 200887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA347 ## Probable cause The pilot’s fuel system mismanagement which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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 C35, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151508), [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 C35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151508), [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 C35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1151508), [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. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151508), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the engine start, run-up, and takeoff were routine. About 35 minutes after takeoff, the pilot changed from the right to the left fuel tank. About 2 hours after taking off while in cruise flight at 6,500 ft mean sea level, the engine sputtered accompanied by a reduction in the fuel flow. The pilot activated the fuel boost pump with no effect on the fuel flow. He subsequently changed from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank again with no effect and then returned the fuel selector to the left fuel tank. The propeller continued to windmill and further trouble shooting did not restore engine power so the pilot executed a forced landing to an open field populated with vegetation and sparse brush. The airframe sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. ADS-B data revealed the airplane departed at 1647:43 and ultimately climbed to a cruise altitude of about 6,500 ft msl. About 1853, the airplane entered a gradual descent which continued until the final data point consistent with a loss of engine power about that time. The final ADS-B data point was recorded at 1857:31. The altitude associated with that final data point was about 2,475 ft msl, which was about 50 ft above ground level. A postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of a fuel leak or vegetation blight. The fuel caps were securely installed, and the fuel system appeared to be intact. About 8 gallons of fuel were recovered from the left tank and 3 gallons were recovered from the auxiliary tank. The right fuel tank was empty. The FAA inspector observed the fuel selector set to the left fuel tank when on scene after the accident. Postrecovery airframe fuel system and engine examinations did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, the engine was expected to burn about 9.7 gallons per hour (gph) and 11.2 gph at 65% and 75% engine power, respectively. The unusable fuel was 3 gallons in each main tank. The pilot stated that about 33 gallons of fuel were onboard at takeoff. Since about 11 gallons remained in the airplane at the time of the accident, the engine had burned about 22 gallons which was consistent with the flight time of 2 hours and 5 minutes from takeoff until the loss of engine power. In light of the lack of anomalies with respect to the engine and the fuel system, it is likely the pilot inadvertently ran the right fuel tank dry and was not able to reestablish fuel flow to the engine from the left fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N655D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N655D), registered now, S/N D-2923, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C35 - Registry model: [Beech C35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c35) (registry code 1151508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2923 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 5508 - Engines: CONT MOTOR E185 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2025 - Departed: GPM, Grand Prairie, TX - Destination: AMA, Amarillo, TX - Airport: None, N/A, runway N/A - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,778 total, 50 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KCDS, 32 nm away - METAR: METAR KCDS 262353Z AUTO 06005KT 10SM OVC015 21/17 A3019 ## 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 20250826011209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250826011209A), Aug 26, 2025: Beech C35, Memphis, TX, Substantial damage. On August 26, 2025, at approximately 1800 CDT, a Beechcraft C35 performed an off-airport emergency landing 9.5 NM west of Memphis TX (F21) sustaining… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200887. 17.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19396581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN25LA347_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19510025&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN25LA347-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19396441&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA(Sherman)_27Aug2025-Rel.pdf - Recovery personnel statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19396495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20LoneStarRecovery(RBall)_01Oct2025-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- pilot (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19396820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Pilot(Hooks)_02Oct2025-Rel.pdf - Airplane examination summary (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19614823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN25LA347-Rel.pdf - Pilot operating handbook (excerpt) -- fuel system (item 7, PDF, 9 pages, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19396708&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH_Sec7_FuelSystemsDescrip-Rel.pdf - Pilot operating handbook (excerpt) -- cruise performance (item 8, PDF, 2 pages, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19396505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH_Sec5_CruisePerformance-Rel.pdf - Adsb data_N655D_26AUG2025 (item 9, XLSX, 10.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19502391&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=ADSB%20Data_N655D_26Aug2025-Rel.xlsx - Adsb data_N655D_26AUG2025 (google earth format) (item 10, KMZ, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19502912&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=ADSB%20Data_N655D_26Aug2025%20(Google%20Earth%20Format)-Rel.kmz 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.