- Date
- July 23, 2008, 10:08 local (16:08 UTC)
- Place
- Longmont, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7965MBeech 35-C33A
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20080723841729A
- Case key
- 68529
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
A total loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot said that when he was on final approach, he noticed he was slightly below the glidepath and added power to compensate, The engine did not respond and he was forced to land in a barley field. Examination of the engine disclosed power train continuity and thumb compression on all cylinders. The fractured throttle arm failed in overload. The reason for the loss of power was not determined.
Factual narrative
On July 23, 2008, at 1008 mountain daylight time, a Beech 35-C33A, N7965M, registered to and piloted by the pilot, was substantially damaged when the engine lost power and the airplane landed short of runway 29 at Vance Brand Municipal Airport (LMO), Longmont, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed and activated. There were no injuries to the pilot and his passenger. The cross-country flight originated from Wendover (ENV), Nevada, approximately 0750.
According to the pilot's accident report, he descended from 17,000 feet under partial power and entered a 45-degree entry for a left downwind to runway 29. The landing gear was extended and he completed the pre-landing checklist. On final approach with 20-degrees of flaps extended, the pilot noticed he was slightly below the glidepath and added power to compensate. The engine did not respond. He was forced to land in a barley field. The nose and main landing gear attach points were damaged, the firewall was buckled, and both wings were dented and punctured.
The airplane and engine were later examined at the facilities of Beegles Aircraft Service, Greeley, Colorado. Power train continuity was noted. There was thumb compression on all cylinders. The throttle arm was found fractured in two places. It was sent to NTSB's metallurgical laboratory for analysis. According to their report, "Fracture features generally showed tear ridges and dimples intermixed with casting voids consistent with overstress fracture. No evidence of preexisting cracking such as fatigue features was observed."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7965M
- Reported as
- Beech 35-C33A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CE-87
- Airframe hours
- 3,404
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-BB, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Brian Higley
- Registered owner
- Michael Crump
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 2008 · 39 hours before
- Departed
- ENV · Wendover, NV
- Destination
- LMO · Longmont, CO
- Flight plan
- VFR/IFR
- Airport
- LMO · Vance Brand, runway 29, 4,800 × 75 ft, concrete
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,547 total · 281 in this make and model · 1,436 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 256 total · 13 in this make and model · 171 as pilot in command · 81 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- FNL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.