- Date
- September 22, 1996, 20:30 local (Sep 23, 1996, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Minot, ND
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1368ZBeech BE-35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960922029099A
- Case key
- 10395
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
fuel management was not performed and starvation of the fuel system. A factor involved was inadequate in-flight planning/decision.
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.
Analysis
While on a three mile final approach to landing after being aloft for three hours, the engine sputtered and lost total power. The pilot flipped the switch to his right fuel tank and tried to restart the engine. It wouldn't start. On the return flight, the pilot had forgotten to switch the tank to the right one before he ran out. He stated he always does it, but forgot this time. The airplane landed 2 1/4 miles short of the runway. The airplane's nose was blocked up and after several turns, the engine started and ran with no discrepancies noticed.
Factual narrative
On September 22, 1996, at 2030 central daylight time (cdt), a Beech BE-35, N1368Z, owned and operated by an instrument rated private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, while on a two mile final approach to runway 26, at Minot International Airport, Minot, North Dakota, following a loss of engine power. The pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a VFR flight plan. The flight departed Holman Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota at 1730 cdt.
According to the pilot's written statement, while on a three mile base leg turning onto final approach to runway 26, the pilot noticed that the engine sputtered and lost total power. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank and was unsuccessful on an engine restart. He set up a 65 mph glide slope and landed 2 1/4 mile short of runway 26.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol received a written statement form the pilot at the time of the accident. According to the Highway Patrol Officer, who took a statement from the pilot, "...it took 33 gallons to fly to Minneapolis and he had bucked a 15 mph wind on the return flight and forgot to switch the tank to the right one before he ran out. He stated he always does it, but forgot this time. He stated it was pilot error."
A Federal Aviation Administration Maintenance Inspector blocked the nose of the airplane up and cranked the engine through a couple of times and the engine started. The engine ran normal with no discrepancies noticed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1368Z
- Reported as
- Beech BE-35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-6789
- Airframe hours
- 3,071
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-N, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David C. Gowan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- STP · St. Paul, MN
- Destination
- MOT · ND
- Airport
- MOT · Minot International, runway 26, 5,758 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 509 total · 170 in this make and model · 416 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MOT, 3 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.