# NTSB FTW02LA001: Beech M35, N9765R, Denton, TX, October 2, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2001, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.209239, -97.129798 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2092&lon=-97.1298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53559/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA001 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing. A contributing 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 landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence post - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight departed and flew 10 minutes to another airport. The pilot executed a full stop landing and decided to remain in the pattern and perform touch-and-go landings. He departed, flew one traffic pattern, landed and departed again. During the initial takeoff climb, the engine began to "surge and lose power." Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted fence posts, both wings separated, and the airplane came to a stop upright. A review of the airplane's maintenance records did not reveal any open maintenance discrepancies. An examination of the engine and a successful full engine test run did not reveal the reason for the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2001, at 1820 central daylight time, a Beech M35 airplane, N9765R, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb from the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The airline transport rated pilot and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Northwest Regional Airport, Roanoke, Texas, approximately 1810. According to the pilot and passenger, they flew to Denton from Roanoke (a 10 minute flight) and made a full stop landing. The pilot decided to remain at Denton and perform touch-and-go landings. He departed, flew one traffic pattern, landed and departed again. During the initial takeoff climb from runway 17, the engine began to "surge and lose power." Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted fence posts, both wings separated, and the airplane came to a stop upright. The pilot added that the fuel selector was in the right tank position from the time the airplane departed Roanoke until the time of the accident. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, reported that fuel was present in each of the airplane's four fuel tanks. A fuel sample was clear and free of contaminants. He added that the oil dipstick indicated 7 quarts. On October 30, 2001, the Teledyne Continental IO-470-C (1) engine was examined and run in the airframe, under supervision of the NTSB Investigator-in-charge, at Air Salvage of Dallas, Lancaster, Texas. The air intake hoses were checked and observed to be free of obstructions. The cockpit fuel selector was set to the left tank position and the left fuel tank was simulated with fuel that had been drained from the left main fuel tank at the accident site. The engine was started and run for a total of 20 minutes at 1000, 1500, 1800, 2550 rpms. The oil pressure, oil temperature, cylinder head temperature, and fuel pressure gauges were monitored at each rpm setting, and remained within their normal operating ranges. A magneto check was performed at 1800 rpm and a 50 rpm drop was noted for the left and right magnetos. The propeller was cycled at each rpm setting and no anomalies were noted. Red fibrous debris was observed at the main fuel screen; however, it did not completely obstruct the screen. The airplane's maintenance logbooks were reviewed. On June 22, 2001, the airframe, engine and propeller underwent their most recent annual inspections. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated a total of 4,212.2 hours and the engine had accumulated a total of 1,587.0 hours since major overhaul. No reports of open maintenance discrepancies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9765R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9765R), registered now, S/N D-6243, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech M35 - Registry model: [Beech M35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-m35) (registry code 1151526) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D6243 - Airframe hours: 4212.2 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-470-C (1) 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Lewis Hollister - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2001, 22.6 hours before - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Destination: DTO, Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal, runway 17, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 12, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 23,892 total, 105 in this make and model, 20,551 as pilot in command, 301 in the last 90 days, 98 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: DTO, 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 20011002035469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011002035469A), Oct 2, 2001: Beech M35, Denton, TX, No damage. (-23) On October 2, 2001 at approximately 1925 local time, Beech BE-35-M35, N9765R, operated by pilot in command thomas l. hollister, began a take off from… 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.