DEN85LA151

NTSB accident investigation · Beech B35 · Chinook, MT · June 7, 1985

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 7, 1985, 14:35 local (20:35 UTC)
Place
Chinook, MT
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N5099CBeech B35
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850607023489A
Case key
16692

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalCruise - normal
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Emergency procedure - improperPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)Factor
Maneuver - performedPilot in command
Object - fenceFactor

Analysis

About 10 min after takeoff, the acft was damaged during a forced landing after the eng began sputtering & then lost power. The plt reported that he made a normal takeoff with the cowl flaps open & the mixture rich. After climbing about 1100 ft (to 3500 ft MSL), he closed the cowl flaps & leaned the mixture slightly. About 2 to 3 min later, the eng began sputtering. The plt observed the oil temp rising. He said he opened the cowl flaps, turned on the carb heat, changed the fuel sel & checked the magnetos. The eng lost all power & the plt attempted to land on a road. However, he maneuvered to avoid power lines then elected to land in a field. During the apch to land, the acft hit a fence & was damaged. A lack of fuel was noted in the fuel line leading to the carburetor. The acft had been refueled with 37 gal of unleaded automotive fuel. The air temp was reported as 85 deg. No pre-accident problem was found that would have caused a loss of power, vapor lock or other eng/fuel sys problem. The wobble pump was not used while attempting to restore pwr.

Aircraft

Registration
N5099C
Reported as
Beech B35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D-2361
Airframe hours
5,326
Engine
Continental E-185-11, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Martin Williamson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · December 3, 1984 · 37 hours before
Departed
Chinook, MT
Destination
Spearfish, SD

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
53
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,414 total · 59 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 10 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.