# NTSB DEN03LA107: Beech S35, N5751K, Colorado Spring, CO, June 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2003, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Colorado Spring, CO - Coordinates: 38.799999, -104.699996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8000&lon=-104.7000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57231 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57231/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA107 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision in which he mismanaged his fuel supply by failing to switch tanks resulting in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis While being vectored to avoid weather, the pilot lost track of his fuel situation and failed to switch tanks. While on approach the engine stopped. The pilot elected to touch down with the landing gear up and the flaps retracted. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, when a salvage company retrieved the airplane from the field, approximately 2.5 hours of fuel was found in the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2003, at approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a Beech S35, N5751K, was substantially damaged during a gear-up forced landing north of the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being conducted under the provisions Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, at approximately 0830. According to the pilot, he filled the fuel tanks to capacity before departure and calculated that he had approximately 7 hours of fuel on board. Flight time was estimated to be 5 hours and 10 minutes. After takeoff, the pilot was cleared direct to Colorado Springs, Colorado. The flight went as planned until arrival in Colorado. Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) gave the pilot several vectors, due to weather, that he had not planned on. The pilot stated that he lost track of his fuel situation and failed to switch tanks during this time. While on approach into Colorado Springs the engine lost power. The pilot elected to touch down with the landing gear up and the flaps retracted. During the forced landing, the airplane's keel beam and engine firewall were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled forward of the right wing. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. According to the pilot, when a salvage company retrieved the airplane from the field, approximately 2.5 hours of fuel was found in the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5751K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5751K), registered now, S/N D-7539, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7539 - Airframe hours: 2508.6 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Peter J. Vercouteren - Registered owner: GW Bonanza Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2002, 87.6 hours before - Departed: FLD, FOND DU LAC, WI - Destination: COS, COLORADO SPRING, CO - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 22, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,260 total, 61 in this make and model, 1,098 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: COS, 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). - [Incident 20030614013109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030614013109I), Jun 14, 2003: Beech S35, Colorado Spring, CO, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft on approach 17L cos lowered landing gear and the engine quit. The pilot raised the gear and landed short of runway. 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.