- Date
- September 2, 2007, 13:58 local (18:58 UTC)
- Place
- Borger, TX
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N118TTBeech B35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO, TCM
- FAA report
- 20070902019449A
- Case key
- 66566
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
A loss of engine power while on approach due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident were a corroded carburetor fuel needle valve, inlet fuel screen and no suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Analysis
The single engine airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power while on approach. The airplane came to rest in a nose down vertical position against a private residence carport. The flight departed on the 258 nautical mile VFR cross country flight approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes earlier and was landing at a planned overnight stop. An examination of the engine was performed and evidence of corrosion and rust contamination was found in the carburetor inlet fuel screen, and around the fuel needle valve and needle valve seat.
Factual narrative
On September 2, 2007 at 1358 central daylight time N118TT, a Beech Bonanza BE35, single engine airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power while on approach to Hutchinson, County Airport (KBGD) near Borger, Texas. The aircraft came to rest in a nose down vertical position against a private residence carport. The private pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot had to have emergency crews cut away a portion of the cockpit area to allow egress. The passenger was able to egress unassisted. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the visual flight rules (VFR) flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91.
The flight departed Hicks Field, Fort Worth, Texas Field (T67) at approximately 1205 for the VFR flight to KBGD for an overnight stop.
The airplane was recovered to a secure hanger for further examination. On September 4, 2007 a Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted an examination of the airplane and conducted interviews with witnesses and the pilot. On September 14, 2007 an examination of engine was performed by the engine manufacturer under the supervision of the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge. There was evidence of corrosion and rust contamination found in the carburetor inlet fuel screen , and around the fuel needle valve and needle valve seat.
The automated weather reporting facility at Hutchinson County airport (KGBD), approximately 3/4 nautical miles northwest from the accident site, reported an observation at 1351 as winds variable at 4 knots, 10 statue miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 31 degrees Celsius, dew point 11 degrees Celsius, and barometric pressure of 30.18 inches of Mercury.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N118TT
- Reported as
- Beech B35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-2602
- Airframe hours
- 1,569
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 1, 2006
- Departed
- T67 · Fort Worth, TX
- Destination
- KBGD · Borger, TX
- Airport
- KBGD · Hutchinson County Airport
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
- 44
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 422 total · 91 in this make and model · 360 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.18 inHg
- Observed at
- KBGD, 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.