# NTSB CHI00LA055: Beech BE-35, N2012D, Mokane, MO, December 24, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 1999, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Mokane, MO - Coordinates: 38.669986, -91.869026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6700&lon=-91.8690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48403/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA055 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to the pilot's failure to make accurate fuel consumption calculations and the pilot's improper emergency procedures for engine re-start. A factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - unreliable - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that after the engine quit he scanned the gauges. The left fuel tank indicated 1/4 tank of fuel. The pilot reported that the left fuel tank was selected, but he did not change the fuel selector to the right fuel tank when he tried to perform an engine re-start. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field, but the landing gear collapsed after it 'bounced over a little drainage ditch' during landing rollout. The pilot inspected the left wing tank for fuel. He reported he, 'couldn't see gas in the tank,' and that the left tank was 'pretty empty.' He checked the right tank and estimated there was 3 to 4 gallons of fuel in the right tank. The right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot reported he had fueled the airplane with approximately one hour of fuel in each tank, and he had flown for approximately one hour when the engine quit. The airplane's flight manual lists '(1) Select other fuel tank (check to feel detent)' as a step in the emergency procedures for loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 1999, at 1600 central standard time, a Beech BE-35, N2012D, was substantially damaged when the main landing gear collapsed during a forced landing in a field near Mokane, Missouri. The airplane was at cruise flight at 3,500 feet mean sea level when the engine sputtered and quit. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight had originated from Montgomery-Wehrman Airport, Montgomery City, Missouri, (4MO) at 1510 and was on a local flight. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that after the engine quit he scanned the gauges. He reported the left fuel tank indicated 1/4 tank of fuel. The pilot reported that the left fuel tank was selected, but he did not change the fuel selector to the right fuel tank when he tried to perform an engine re-start. The pilot pulled the Carburetor Heat-On but it had no effect. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field, but the landing gear collapsed during landing rollout. The pilot reported the airplane, "... bounced over a drainage ditch in the field and then the nose wheel hit the ground and broke off." The pilot reported he inspected the left wing tank for fuel. He reported he, "couldn't see gas in the tank," and that the left tank was "pretty empty." He checked the right tank and estimated there was 3 to 4 gallons of fuel in the right tank. He reported the right fuel gauge indicated 1/4 tank. The pilot reported he had fueled the airplane with approximately one hour of fuel in each tank. He reported that he had flown for approximately one hour when the engine quit. The airplane's flight manual lists "(1) Select other fuel tank (check to feel detent)" as a step in the emergency procedures for loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2012D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2012D-2012-08-07), registration cancelled 2012-08-07, S/N D-3362, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE-35 - 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: D3362 - Airframe hours: 4850 - Engines: Continental E-225 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Albatross Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 11, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: 4MO, MONTGOMERY CITY, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 20 in this make and model, 149 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: JEF, 16 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 19991224040839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991224040839A), Dec 24, 1999: Mokane, MO, No damage. (-23) On December 24, 1999, near Mokane, Missouri, at approximately 4:00 pm, Beechcraft N2012D developed a loss of engine power. Mr. Bethel contacted the… 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.