# NTSB DFW05LA049: Beech BE35, N860R, Los Fresnos, TX, December 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 2004, 18:26 local (Dec 29, 2004, 00:26 UTC) - Place: Los Fresnos, TX - Coordinates: 26.12111, -97.42778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1211&lon=-97.4278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60806 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60806/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA049 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the prevailing dark night ilumination. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 1,172-hour pilot reported that the engine lost power when he increased manifold pressure after he leveled off at an altitude of 1,200 feet while on a night cross country flight. The pilot was able to restart the engine by adjusting the mixture and turning on the fuel boost pump; however, the engine lost power a second time. He then initiated a forced landing to an open field with the landing gear retracted. After the airplane came to rest , the pilot secured the airplane and placed the fuel selector to the "off" position. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in the auxiliary tanks, 20 gallons in the left main tank, and approximately 15 gallons in the right main fuel tank. The pilot said that he had previously experienced a loss of engine power on three different occasions in this airplane, and was able to restore power. After each of those power losses the airplane was examined by an airframe and power plant mechanic, and no deficiencies were identified. The engine was test-run under the supervision of the Safety Board. The engine started immediately and ran at various power settings without interruption for approximately 30 minutes. No mechanical deficiencies were noted. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2004, approximately 1826 central standard time, a single-engine Beech BE35 airplane, N860R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power near Los Fresnos, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. A flight plan was not filed for the flight that originated from the Gladewater Municipal Airport (07F), near Gladewater, Texas, at 1520, and destined for the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO), near Brownsville, Texas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written statement, the 1,172-hour pilot reported that when he was approximately 30 miles from Brownsville, he made a "fairly rapid" descent from an altitude of 8,500 feet mean sea level (msl) down to 1,200 feet msl. When he added power to level off, the engine "coughed" and "sputtered." The pilot was able to restart the engine momentarily by adjusting the mixture and turning on the fuel boost pump, but it lost power a second time. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field with the landing gear retracted. Before exiting the airplane, he turned off all of the electrical switches and placed the fuel selector to the "off" position. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed the firewall was bent. The inspector reported there was no fuel in the auxiliary tanks, 20 gallons in the left main tank, and approximately 15 gallons in the right main fuel tank. The pilot reported that he purchased the airplane in June 2001, and since that time, he had experienced a loss of engine power in flight on three different occasions. Each time he was able to restore power. After each of these power losses, the pilot had the airplane examined by an FAA certificated airframe and power plant mechanic, but no discrepancies could be identified. The engine was test-run at Teledyne Continental Motors, Mobile, Alabama, under the supervision of the Safety Board. The engine started immediately and ran at various power settings without interruption for approximately 30 minutes. No mechanical deficiencies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N860R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N860R-2012-08-14), registration cancelled 2012-08-14, S/N CD-11, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE35 - Registry model: [Beech 35-33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-33) (registry code 1151402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-11 - Airframe hours: 4308.8 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Craig Thomas Hughes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2004, 6 hours before - Departed: 07F, Gladewater, TX - Destination: BRO, Brownsville, TX - Airport: BRO, Brownsville/South Padre ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,172 total, 104 in this make and model, 1,023 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: BRO, 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 20041228033469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041228033469A), Dec 28, 2004: Beech 3533, Los Fresnos, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that at 1200FT during approach to bro engine quit producing power. Landed in field with landing gear up. No fire, no damage to property or… 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.