# NTSB CHI99LA084: Beech 35, N5540D, Lincoln, NE, February 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 1999, 19:10 local (Feb 9, 1999, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, NE - Coordinates: 40.909305, -96.78997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9093&lon=-96.7900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45729/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA084 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to perform an aircraft preflight which resulted in him selecting a fuel tank which had insufficient fuel for the flight and the subsequent fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot last preflighted the airplane 2 days prior to the accident day. On the day of the accident he flew from Wahoo, NE, to Lincoln and was returning to Wahoo. Shortly after takeoff form Lincoln, at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 feet agl the engine lost power. The airplane was landed on a golf course near the airport. Post accident inspection revealed the left main fuel tank was empty. The right main and auxiliary tanks contained fuel. The pilot stated that he used the left main tank for the takeoff. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 1999, at 1910 central standard time, a Beech 35, N5540D, operated by a private pilot had the nose gear collapse during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane had departed from the Lincoln Municipal Airport just prior to the accident and was en route to Wahoo, Nebraska. The pilot reported that he had preflighted the airplane two days prior to the accident in preparation for a flight. He reported that at this time the left main tank was approximately 80% full and the right main and auxiliary tanks were at least 3/4 full. He did not end up flying that day and the airplane was put back in the hangar. The pilot stated that on the day of the accident, he intended to fly the airplane to the Lincoln Municipal Airport to pick up maps for an upcoming trip. He stated that since the airplane was in a hangar since his last preflight and no one else had flown it, he did not perform another preflight. He stated that he did notice the airplane was syphoning fuel from the overflow vent, but that it had stopped prior to him starting the engine. The pilot reported the 15 to 20 minute flight to Lincoln was uneventful and that during his GUMPS check prior to landing the fuel quantity indicator was in the "green." He stated that he once again did not preflight the airplane prior to departing Lincoln. He stated that after taxiing he was cleared for takeoff. Upon reaching an altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 feet the engine lost power. He stated he had performed the takeoff on the left main tank and once the engine lost power he switched to the auxiliary tanks. He was unable to get the engine restarted and he switched back to the left main fuel tank. He stated he did not use the wobble pump. The pilot stated that he was not going to make it back to the airport so he elected to land on a nearby golf course. The nose gear collapsed during the landing roll resulting in damage to the firewall. Post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Lincoln, Nebraska Flight Standards District Office. The inspection revealed the left main fuel tank was empty. The right main and auxiliary tanks were down approximately one inch from the filler caps. The pilot had stated that the fuel quantity indicator would occasionally stick in the yellow area. A battery was reconnected to the airplane after the accident and the fuel quantity indicator was checked. The indicator showed the left main tank to be empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5540D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5540D-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N D-5095, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5095 - Engines: Continental O-470-G 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John H. Sohl - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LNK, LINCOLN, NE - Destination: AHQ, WAHOO, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 247 total, 195 in this make and model, 317 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LNK ## 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 19990208001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990208001229A), Feb 8, 1999: Beech H35, Lincoln, NE, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that the acft had "lost something" shortly after take-off and said he was attempting to return to the arpt. The acft landed on highlands golf… 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.