- Date
- July 31, 2004, 18:15 local (Aug 1, 2004, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Junction, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N222SBeech V35A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040731016129A
- Case key
- 59855
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
the pilot's improper planning and decision making resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing factors include the insufficient time to completely extend the landing gear, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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
After a local flight of approximately 2 hours, which included 3 taxi-back landings, the pilot requested a fourth departure. The pilot stated that, prior to the third landing, the right main fuel tank gauge was "indicating 1/3 full, at the top of the yellow arc," and prior to his fourth departure, the left main fuel gauge was indicating, "a little over 1/3 full, above the yellow arc." During the departure from runway 22, at approximately 500 feet agl, the engine lost all power. The pilot completed a turn and attempted to land on runway 4. Unable to make the runway, the pilot was forced to land in a field. The airplane impacted the terrain approximately 100 feet left of the runway centerline, and came to a stop adjacent to the runway threshold. The impact with the terrain collapsed the landing gear, buckled the airplane's right forward keel beam and separated the step from the fuselage. The pilot stated that the total fuel on board at the last take-off was 26 gallons. The Beechcraft Bonanza Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) states: "do not take off when Fuel Quantity Gauges indicate in the Yellow Band or with less then 13 gallons in each main tank."
Factual narrative
On July 31 2004, at approximately 1815 mountain daylight time, a Beech V35A, N222S, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from Walker Field (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he took off from GJT at approximately 1600, for a planned local flight of approximately 2 hours, and to complete a few taxi-back landings. The pilot stated that, during his second approach, he noticed that the right main fuel tank gauge was "indicating 1/3 full, at the top of the yellow arc." At that time, he switched the fuel selector lever from the right main tank to the left main tank, and completed the second approach. The left main tank was, "reading 2/3 full." The pilot then made his third departure and taxi-back landing.
After the pilot requested a fourth departure, the tower directed him to switch from runway 29, to runway 22. The pilot stated that, prior to his fourth departure, the left main fuel gauge was indicating, "a little over 1/3 full, above the yellow arc." During the departure climb, at approximately 500 feet agl, the engine lost power. The pilot completed a 180 degree turn and attempted to land on runway 4. Unable to make the runway, the pilot was forced to land in a field. The airplane impacted the terrain approximately 100 feet left of the runway centerline, and came to a stop adjacent to the runway threshold. The pilot stated that, during the forced landing, he did not have sufficient time to completely extend the landing gear. The impact with the terrain collapsed the landing gear, buckled the airplane's right forward keel beam and separated the step from the fuselage.
The pilot stated that the total fuel on board at the last take-off was 26 gallons. According to the Beechcraft Bonanza Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH), it states, "do not take off when Fuel Quantity Gauges indicate in the Yellow Band or with less then 13 gallons in each main tank."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N222S
- Reported as
- Beech V35A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D9008
- Airframe hours
- 3,604.6
- Engine
- Continental TSIO520D, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Nelson Engineering and Construction Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 12, 2004 · 4.2 hours before
- Departed
- GJT · Grand Junction, CO
- Destination
- GJT · Grand Junction, CO
- Airport
- GJT · Walker Field
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
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 13, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 513 total · 400 in this make and model · 441 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KGJT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.