# NTSB FTW00LA264: Beech H35, N5448D, Wagoner, OK, September 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2000, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Wagoner, OK - Coordinates: 35.949024, -95.379165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9490&lon=-95.3792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50299/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA264 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb, for an undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot was executing touch-and-go landings, and while on final approach switched the fuel selector from the auxiliary tanks to the left main tank. The airplane touched down and the pilot reconfigured for takeoff and departed. While climbing through 75 feet agl, the engine lost total power and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground in the runway overrun area, crossed a state highway, and came to rest upright in a ditch. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, both main fuel tanks were full, and the cockpit fuel selector was in the left main tank position. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2000, at 1800 central daylight time, a Beech H35 airplane, N5448D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at the Wagoner Municipal Airport, Wagoner, Oklahoma. The private pilot, who was the registered owner and operator of the airplane, and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the Wagoner Municipal Airport at 1715. According to the pilot, the flight departed from runway 17 and remained in the traffic pattern executing touch-and-go landings. During an approach to the runway, he switched the fuel selector from the auxiliary tanks to the left main tank. The airplane touched down and he then "reconfigured" the airplane for takeoff. The airplane departed, the landing gear was retracted, and while climbing through 75 feet agl, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to re-start the engine, but the engine did not re-start. During the ensuing forced landing, to the runway overrun area, the airplane contacted a barbed wire fence, crossed over a state highway, and came to rest upright in a ditch. The pilot added that the boost pump was "still running," after the airplane came to a stop. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the site, the empennage was twisted and both propeller blades, 7 inches inboard from the blade-tip, were bent back 90 degrees. He stated that, when he looked in each of the airplane's fuel tanks, he observed that the auxiliary fuel tanks were empty and the main fuel tanks were full. He added that the cockpit fuel selector was in the left main tank position and that a sample of fuel from the left main fuel tank was "clear and free of contaminants." In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, in the section "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot stated the following; "Select the fullest tank long before final and touchdown and confirm [fuel] selector handle is in detent on fullest tank." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5448D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5448D-2001-11-27), registration cancelled 2001-11-27, S/N D-4968, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-4968 - Airframe hours: 5071 - Engines: Continental IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James P. Stiles - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1999, 116 hours before - Departed: H68, OK - Airport: H68, Wagoner Municipal, runway 17, 3,405 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,071 total, 971 in this make and model, 1,019 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MKO, 12 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 20000917014019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000917014019A), Sep 17, 2000: Beech H35, Wagoner, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed Wagoner airport and flew around the local area performing several touch and go landings. On the last touch and go the engine quit after… 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.