# NTSB FTW02LA183: Beech V35A, N800MD, Leslie, AR, June 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2002, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Leslie, AR - Coordinates: 35.817262, -92.553947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8173&lon=-92.5539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 54961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54961/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54961 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA183 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. 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, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis During cruise flight, there was a loss of engine power. The pilot selected a different fuel tank and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. The engine restarted and ran for approximately 2 minutes before there was a total loss of engine power. The pilot diverted the flight toward the nearest airport. The airplane landed short of the airport in a rough and uneven field. Fuel samples, from the main fuel tanks, were blue in color, and no debris was noted in the fuel. There was physical evidence of fuel on the vegetation along the energy path and in the vicinity of the main wreckage. Post-accident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded operation of the engine prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2002, approximately 0910 central daylight time, a Beech V35A single-engine airplane, N800MD, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Leslie, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to the Southwest Investment Company, Wilmington, Delaware, and was being operated by a private individual under Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The instrument rated private pilot was seriously injured and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight for which an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed and activated. The personal flight departed from Mountain Home, Arkansas, approximately 0840, with Little Rock, Arkansas, as its intended destination. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 3,850-hour pilot reported that the engine lost power approximately 20 minutes after reaching his cruise altitude. The pilot added that, following the loss of power, he selected a different fuel tank and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. The engine restarted and ran for approximately 2 minutes before there was a total loss of engine power. The pilot diverted the flight for a forced landing at the Searcy County Airport, near Marshall, Arkansas; however, the airplane landed short of the airport. During the landing roll, in a rough and uneven terrain, the airplane came to rest nose low. Local authorities and the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found the airplane in the field. The initial ground scar was approximately 2.5 feet long and 1-foot deep. The wreckage distribution from the ground scar to the main wreckage was approximately 80 feet. The outboard leading edge of both wings was crushed aft. The engine was separated from the firewall. The propeller remained attached to the engine with two of the propeller blades bent aft and the third one was undamaged. The flaps and the landing gear were extended. The fuel selector was found positioned on the right tank. Fuel samples, from both main fuel tanks, were blue in color, and no debris was noted in the fuel. There was physical evidence of fuel on the vegetation along the energy path and in the vicinity of the main wreckage. On June 25, 2002, under the supervision of the FAA inspector, the manufacturer's representative examined the Continental IO-520-B(2) engine, serial number 807067R. No anomalies were found that would have precluded operation of the engine prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N800MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800MD-2006-02-21), registration cancelled 2006-02-21, S/N D-8630, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35A - Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D8630 - Airframe hours: 4167.7 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA(2) 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Southwest Investment Company - Registered owner: Michael D. Ibsen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: BPK, Mountain Home, AR - Destination: LIT, Little Rock, AR - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 3,850 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 3,750 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: LIT, 60 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 20020617021949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020617021949A), Jun 17, 2002: Beech V35A, Leslie, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 17, 2002, approximately 0908 central daylight time, a Beech 35-V35A, N800MD, impacted the terrain during an emergency landing following a loss of… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54961. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Report from Party to the Investigation (Continental) (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Party%20to%20the%20Investigation%20(Continental)-Master.PDF - Portions of Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 678 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Portions%20of%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of fuel manifold. (Courtesy of Continental) (item 6, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40187013&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20fuel%20manifold.%20(Courtesy%20of%20Continental)-Master.PDF 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.