# NTSB DEN00LA029: Beech N-35, N9468Y, Englewood, CO, December 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 16, 1999, 15:01 local (22:01 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.639122, -104.990364 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6391&lon=-104.9904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48339/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA029 ## Probable cause A forced landing on unsuitable terrain due a complete loss of power. A factor was the pilot inadvertently placing the fuel selector to the off position while executing the approach for landing checklist. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel tank selector position - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel system,fuel shutoff - switched off (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ravine - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis During descent in preparation for landing at the completion of a cross-country flight, the pilot executed the checklist, which included switching the fuel selector to the 'fullest' tank. Subsequently the engine lost all power. A forced landing was made on terrain, which was unsuitable, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, fuselage, and wings. During a post accident engine run the engine performed in a normal fashion. The pilot told several people that he had inadvertently shut off the fuel when he switched fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative On December 16, 1999, at 1501 mountain standard time, a Beech N-35, N9468Y, made a forced landing approximately 2 miles short of runway 28 at Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, following a complete loss of power. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured; however, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from North Platte, Nebraska, at 1300. According to the attached pilot narrative, he was in communication with Centennial tower and reported a 3-mile final as instructed. The flight was cleared to land on runway 28. At 2 miles from the runway at about 800 feet above ground level, the pilot said he "switched the fuel selector to the right tank (fullest), rechecked the landing gear down, advanced the mixture slightly toward rich (go-around preparation), and checked the prop to full rpm. Flaps were selected visually to one quarter." The pilot said the engine began to lose power and he advanced the throttle. The power loss continued and he said he retarded the mixture towards lean without effect. He stated he tried different combinations of mixture, throttle, and boost pump but did not regain power. In the ensuing forced landing, the aircraft impacted in a ravine and came to rest 300 feet from the initial impact point on the side of a hill. During the forced landing, the propeller was damaged, the nose landing gear collapsed and the lower forward fuselage was displaced upward into the cabin and engine compartment. In addition, both wings suffered spar and skin damage. On February 11, 2000, after installing a test propeller and cutting off the tips of the exhaust stacks which had been crushed during the forced landing, the engine was run mounted on the airframe and using the normal fuel feed system. The engine performed in a normal fashion throughout the designed power range. During the investigation, interviews were conducted with persons from Rocky Mountain Straight Flight, the company that retrieved the aircraft, and with the insurance adjuster who processed the accident claim. Both provided information that the pilot stated to them that he had inadvertently shut off the fuel when he switched fuel tanks while executing the items on the checklist in preparation for landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9468Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9468Y-2018-08-24), registration cancelled 2018-08-24, S/N D-6639, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech N-35 - Registry model: [Beech N35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-n35) (registry code 1151528) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-6639 - Airframe hours: 4973 - Engines: Continental IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael A. Bratlie - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1999, 34 hours before - Departed: LBF, NORTH PLATTE, NE - Destination: APA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 26 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: APA, 2 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 19991216047839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991216047839A), Dec 16, 1999: Beech N35, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 16, 1999, at 1501 MST, a Beech N-35, N9468Y, landed approximately 1 mile short of the runway at centennial airport, Englewood, CO, following… 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.