CHI87FA198

NTSB accident investigation · Beech B35 · Martinsville, IN · August 30, 1987

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

Date: August 30, 1987, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
Place: Martinsville, IN
Injuries: 2 fatal
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N700TBeech B35
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report February 17, 1989
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19870830048479A
Case key: 13656

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb

Fluid,fuel - starvationCause

Fuel tank selector position - improperPilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Shortly after takeoff an engine failure occurred. The aircraft stalled and spun to the ground when the pilot tried to return to the airport. The fuel selector was positioned on the almost empty auxiliary tank (meant for use in level flight only).

Aircraft

Registration: N700T
Reported as: Beech B35
Category: Airplane
Serial number: D5916
Airframe hours: 4,283
Engine: Continental I0-470-C1, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Martin G. Swinehart
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · August 28, 1987 · 1 hours before
Departed: 6I9 · Martinsville, IN
Destination: 213 · Rough River, KY

N700TRegistration cancelled Jul 7, 1992 · Beech K35S/N D5916 Airframe modelBeech K35

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: 51
Certificates: Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings: Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Toxicology: Performed
Flight hours: 14,300 total

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 180° at 5 knots
Visibility: 7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 63 °F, dew point -0 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19870830048479ABeech K35 · Martinsville, INLeft bank after takeoff. Engine quit, plane stalled, recovered too late. Impacted level. Fuel selected empty tank.Aug 30, 1987 · N700T · Destroyed · 2 fatal