# NTSB CHI02LA063: Beech V35B, N4217S, Mattoon, IL, January 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 2002, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Mattoon, IL - Coordinates: 39.469581, -88.3609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4696&lon=-88.3609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54023 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54023/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54023 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA063 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factor to the accident was the unsuitable rough/uneven terrain encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Undershoot, emergency landing - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - gear extension - selected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a forced landing the airplane landed short of the runway resulting in substantial damage. Approximately 4 - 5 miles northeast of the departure airport the engine began to fluctuate between 1,800 - 1,900 rpm. The pilot elected to turn back to the departure airport and enter the traffic pattern for runway 24. The pilot reported he lowered the landing gear while on downwind leg. The pilot stated the engine began to lose significant power while on base leg and he turned on the electric fuel pump and "worked throttle" with no change in engine performance. The pilot stated he turned onto the final approach for runway 24 and "Engine occasional sputter but seemed quieter. [Manifold] pressure, rpm just dropping, airspeed and altitude dropping quickly." The airplane landed approximately 1/4 mile short of runway 24. The engine was subjected to an operational test while still attached to the airframe and original fuel system. The engine started without hesitation and ran at varying power ranges without any anomalies. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 2002, at 1115 central standard time, a Beech V35B, N4217S, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near the Coles County Memorial Airport (MTO), Mattoon, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his single passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed at 1100 and had the intended destination of Rantoul, Illinois. According to the pilot's written statement, he had departed MTO, climbed to 3,000 feet above mean sea level, throttled back to 23 inches of manifold pressure and 2,300 rpm, and set the fuel flow rate to 14 gallons per hour. The pilot reported that approximately 4 - 5 miles northeast of MTO the engine rpm began to fluctuate between 1,800 and 1,900 rpm. The pilot stated he decided to turn back to MTO and entered the traffic pattern for runway 24. The pilot reported he lowered the landing gear while on downwind leg. The pilot stated that after he turned onto the base leg the engine began to lose power. The pilot reported he turned on the electric fuel pump and "worked throttle" with no change in engine performance. The pilot stated he turned onto the final approach for runway 24 and "Engine occasional sputter but seemed quieter. [Manifold] pressure, rpm just dropping, airspeed and altitude dropping quickly." The airplane landed approximately 1/4 mile short of runway 24. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration performed the post-accident examination of the airplane. The engine was subjected to an operational test while still attached to the airframe and original fuel system. The engine started without hesitation and ran at varying power ranges without any anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4217S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4217S), registered now, S/N D-9968, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D9968 - Airframe hours: 1991.2 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Carol L. Gapsis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2001, 45 hours before - Departed: MTO, Mattoon, IL - Destination: 2I5, Rantoul, IL - Airport: MTO, Coles County Memorial Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 6, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 660 total, 479 in this make and model, 536 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MTO ## 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 20020113000779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020113000779A), Jan 13, 2002: Beech V35B, Mattoon Charles, IL, No damage. (.19) On January 13, 2002, at 1115 central standard time, a Beech V35B, N4217S, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54023. 392 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Report (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Redacted.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.