# NTSB DEN04LA040: Beech A36, N8240U, Farmington, NM, January 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 22, 2004, 19:16 local (Jan 23, 2004, 02:16 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NM - Coordinates: 36.75053, -108.179115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7505&lon=-108.1791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Raytheon Aircraft Company, Federal Aviation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 58670 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58670/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA040 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision making and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in fuel starvation/exhaustion and a stall spin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fuel system - starvation/exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The private pilot departed Farmington at approximately 1500 for a 3-hour cross-country flight to Canyonlands, Utah, Page, Arizona, and then back to Farmington. The pilot returned to Farmington at approximately 1800. On his return, the pilot requested from the tower clearance to do a few take-offs and landings. He completed nine take-off and landings. Each landing was a full stop, taxi-back, and subsequent take-off (as required by a local training policy). At approximately 1910, the pilot contacted the tower and asked for clearance to take-off and fly the pattern for a tenth time. At approximately 1915, the pilot reported that he had lost engine power. Witnesses stated that the airplane was flying at a low altitude when its wings began to dip side to side. The airplane then pitched nose-up, rolled over, dove, and struck the roof of a police station. An examination of the airplane revealed approximately 4 gallons of fuel in the right wing tank, fuel in the fuel strainer, and no fuel in the lines. No other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On January 22, 2004, at approximately 1916 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, N8240U, was substantially damaged when it impacted a building following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing during a visual approach to Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight originated at approximately 1910. According to a representative from San Juan Pilot Training, Inc., the pilot departed Farmington at approximately 1500 for a 3-hour cross-country flight to Canyonlands, Utah, Page, Arizona, and then back to Farmington. The pilot returned to the Farmington area at approximately 1800. Upon his return, the private pilot contacted the tower and requested clearance to do take-offs and landings. He completed nine take-off, and landings on runway 25. Each landing was a full stop, taxi-back, and subsequent take-off (as required by a local training policy). At approximately 1910, the pilot contacted the tower and asked for clearance to take-off and fly the pattern for a tenth time. At approximately 1915, the pilot reported that he had lost engine power. According to witnesses, the airplane was flying at a low altitude when its wings began to dip side to side. The airplane then pitched nose-up, rolled over, dove, and struck the roof of a police station. The impact crushed the nose section aft, and the leading edge of both wings. An examination of the airplane at the scene showed that approximately 3 to 5 gallons of fuel had leaked from the airplane's tanks. The fuel selector lever was in the "left tank" position. A subsequent examination showed approximately 4 gallons of fuel in the right wing tank, fuel in the fuel strainer and filter, and no fuel in the lines. Flight control continuity was confirmed and an examination of the engine and other airplane systems showed no anomalies. According to the aircraft manufacturer, using a fuel calculation of 15 gallons per hour, and a total flight duration of 4.4 hours, the total calculated fuel used would be 66 gallons. Total useable fuel for the airplane is 74 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8240U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8240U-2005-11-01), registration cancelled 2005-11-01, S/N E-2665, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2665 - Airframe hours: 1689.7 - Engines: Continental IO-550B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: San Juan Pilot Training Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 8, 2004, 30.3 hours before - Departed: FMN, Farmington, NM - Destination: FMN - Airport: FMN, Four Corners Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 17, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 76 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KFMN, 1 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 20040123000849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040123000849A), Jan 23, 2004: Beech A36, Farmington, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 23, 2004, at 1916 MST, a Beechcraft A-36 bonanza, N8240U, registered to san juan pilot training, incorporated, lost power due to fuel… ## Other investigations on N8240U (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN00LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA047), Feb 3, 2000: Beech A36 (N8240U), Farmington, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's excessive remedial action (banking to realign the airplane with the runway). Factors were the student pilot flaring the airplane prematurely and failing to maintain directional… 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.